Govt moves court again as VHP mounts pressure

The order, which came on the eve of the ‘shiladaan’ ceremony organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad, had banned any ‘kind of religious activity including shiladaan’ in the acquired undisputed land. The government, in its petition, said as peace prevailed in the area, the ban could be lifted.

The Shankaracharya had said, even before meeting Vajpayee, that the undisputed land will be handed over to the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas. In the run-up to the shiladaan in March, the government had not taken any stand on whether the puja should be allowed on the acquired land in Ayodhya.

When Attorney General Soli Sorabjee spoke in the court in favour of the puja, he clarified that he was only giving his personal opinion and not expressing the Government’s stand. Chief Justice of India V.N. Khare was part of the three-judge bench which forbade any kind of religious activity on the land that was acquired by the P V Narasimha Rao government in the wake of the Babri Masjid demolition.

There has been no material change in the facts and circumstances of the case and it was expected that status quo will be maintained till the Allahabad High Court, which has fast-tracked the proceedings in the Ayodhya title suits, delivers its verdict on who the rightful owner of the disputed site on which Babri Masjid once stood is.

With time running out fast as the VHP Dharm Sansad is scheduled to meet on February 22, the government had only limited options. And the easier one was to approach the Supreme Court. In case the court gives a favourable decision, the Government can revive last year’s formula of returning the undisputed land to the VHP, allowing at least a symbolic construction and let the courts adjudicate the title suit over the disputed sanctum sanctorum of the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid.

The VHP has already amplified its rhetoric. General secretary Pravin Togadia declared after an emergency meeting of top Parishad leaders: ‘‘You see, this time we will do it. A decisive war may not have taken place with Pakistan, but in our case it would be so. Togadia ruled out any symbolic action.

With an obdurate VHP once again drumming up the issue, Prime Minister Vajpayee has asked Murli Manohar Joshi to get into the picture. To send a clear message to the VHP, Joshi was called in for the meeting Vajpayee had with the Shankaracharya.

By involving Joshi, whose proximity to the VHP president Ashok Singhal is rather well-known, the Prime Minister hopes to rein in the VHP. ‘‘The Prime Minister,’’ sources said, ‘‘is keen to ensure that the situation does not go out of hand’’, at a time when four states are preparing for polls.