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Journalism of Courage
Contrary to its earlier threats to build the Ayodhya temple 8216;8216;by force8217;8217; after the expiry of its deadline today, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad VHP at its Dharma Sansad here today decided to launch only a protracted peaceful agitation on the issue from Feb 27.
The proposed agitation, conforming to consitutional parameters, demonstrates a clear attempt to avoid a confrontation with the Government and the judiciary. There is no doubt that the Sangh counsel to the VHP leaders to restrain their rhetoric and the move made by the BJP-led Government to get the undisputed land restored to the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas has made the Parishad adopt a sober line.
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AIBMAC to move HC, seek 8216;punishment8217; to Singhal
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8216;8216;We will move the application on March 4 or 5,8217;8217; he said. Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh on Saturday criticised political parties, including the BJP for raising the Ayodhya issue to 8216;8216;derive mileage8217;8217; in the coming Assembly elections. 8216;8216;It is clear that the contentious Ram temple-Babri mosque issue is being raised intentionally with an eye on political gains,8217;8217; he said in Allahabad. PTI |
A strategic decision was also taken to make New Delhi the centre of the agitation rather than Ayodhya, which put an unnecessary strain on the Government. To camouflage this, the Parishad banners glorified the Capital no end today. It was hailed as 8216;8216;Indraprastha, Capital of the Hindu Rashtra8217;8217;.
Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and his deputy L.K. Advani, keen on avoiding a showdown with the VHP for the fear of losing their Hindutva tag, also made a clever strategic move. They assigned the job of keeping VHP hardliners under check to Union Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, who shares an excellent personal equation with VHP working president Ashok Singhal. The strategy apparently worked.
The several thousand saffron-clad religious leaders who gathered at the Ramlila Maidan here adopted a resolution stipulating a nation-wide agitation. The stir would begin with country-wide demonstrations on February 27, first anniversary of the Godhra train massacre, to fulfil the resolve of Ramsewaks to build the temple.
Thereafter, a mass-awakening programme would be held from March 5 to 24 to mobilise people for a Satyagraha here from March 27. The war-cry during the mass-awakening programme would be 8216;8216;Dilli chalo March to Delhi8217;8217;.
Those present at the Dharma Sansad included VHP chief V.H. Dalmia, Singhal, general secretary Pravin Togadia, temple movement leaders Mahant Avaidyanath, ex-MP Mahant Ramchandradas Paramhans, Swami Paramanand, Jyotishpeeth Shankaracharya Vasudevanand, Madhvacharya Vishvesh Teerth of Pejawar Mutt, Udupi, and Mahant Nrityagopal Dass of Ayodhya.
Religious leaders used plenty of harsh words, but avoided calling for any extreme action. For show, of course, men dressed as Ram8217;s warriors, armed with bows and arrows, stood ready on either side of the dais.
The gathering called upon the Government to make arrangements to hand over to the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas the complex, including the disputed site, sought the re-naming of India as Hindustan, declaration of the country as a Hindu Rashtra, banning of cow slaughter and checking of Ganga pollution.
