Cong confronts Govt on VHP temple plan

"As far as my Government is concerned, the Constitution and the rule of law are supreme. The judiciary will be unfettered indischarging its duty in the Ayodhya matter. If the Supreme Court paves the way for the construction of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, the verdict will be given effect immediately. If, on the other hand, the Apex Court gives a contrary ruling, my Government will perform its constitutional duty of ensuring that nobody will act against the verdict," the Prime Minister said.

The timing of Sonia’s letter to Vajpayee is not lost on political observers as it follows hot on the heels of the reports of dissidence within the BJP-led front trickling out of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Sources say that the Congress has hinted that it is not even averse to the idea of toppling the BJP government at this juncture.

Pointing to media reports about the ongoing construction of a prefabricated temple structure, Sonia wrote: "The tragic trail of events leading to the demolition of the structure at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992 and its bloody aftermath are still etched in the memory of the nation." Sonia asked Vajpayee to takecognizance of the extremely serious and sensitive issue which had a direct bearing on the well being of the country. She sought to know if it was open for any party to take recourse to action on the issue relating to the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute when it was pending before the highest court of the country. She referred to the statements made by the leaders of the VHP and media reports on the construction.

The Congress, she added, had raised questions to elicit information from the Government in the media and Parliament but no satisfactory answer had been given. "Keeping in mind the recent developments in our country, it is imperative not to allow such divisive issues to come to the fore to the detriment of the larger national interests," she said, pointing out that she was writing the letter so that the Government can enlighten the country in categorical terms and lay to rest all apprehensions and suspicions.

In his reply, Vajpayee chided Sonia for raking up the Ayodhya issue at this stage. Heheld that "it is ironical that whereas my Government has scrupulously kept this contentious issue out of its national agenda for governance, the Opposition today should be exerting to bring it to the centrestage of national politics."

Vajpayee’s letter adds: "I have time and again stated that considerations of competitive politics should not make any political party to lose sight of national imperatives. I do hope to receive your party’s cooperation in furthering these goals in conditions of political stability which our country so badly needs today."

No temple work: VHP

In a statement here, VHP secretary-general Acharya Giriraj Kishore said the temple construction work could begin only if the court gives favourable judgement or the government makes suitable laws, he said.