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This is an archive article published on April 6, 2004

Near Ayodhya, he says a temple soon, talks on

Saying that talks were going on for eight months now and 8216;8216;advance publicity8217;8217; was detrimental, Deputy Prime Minister L ...

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Saying that talks were going on for eight months now and 8216;8216;advance publicity8217;8217; was detrimental, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said that the 8216;8216;construction of a magnificent temple at Ayodhya will begin within a short time after the new government assumes office.8217;8217;

Speaking at a public meeting at Ayodhya8217;s twin-town as part of his Bharat Uday Yatra, Advani said the temple would be built 8216;8216;without bitterness, without tension, without struggle, through discussions at the site of Ram.8217;8217;

The solution to the temple, he claimed, 8216;8216;will become a powerful instrument to forge unity between Hindus and Muslims.8217;8217;

This stance is in conformity with the Vision 2004 Document of the BJP, which has termed a negotiated settlement the best solution to the temple issue while also admitting the primacy of the judicial verdict.

Advani said, 8216;8216;When I talk of the temple, I am often asked, what is the basis for this assurance.8217;8217; And then went on to add that 8216;8216;discussions have been on with Muslims for eight months.8217;8217; Several people had told him, he said, that 8216;8216;it will be difficult for us8217;8217; to hold discussions if there was any 8216;8216;advance publicity.8217;8217;

Advani said when he undertook the Ram rathyatra in 1990, many people criticised it by describing it as divisive. In an apparent reference to the Mandal Commission fall-out, he said though the BJP never opposed benefits given to weaker sections, it did not 8216;8216;appreciate the way it was done.8217;8217;

He claimed that the temple 8216;8216;united Hindus. Otherwise, one does not know what turn this caste bitterness would have taken. The essence of the temple movement and Jai Shri Ram is that it reminds one of Ram and Shabari both.8217;8217;

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Former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, during his brief speech, folded his hands and told the audience: 8216;8216;I bow before your feet. I have come to pray to all of you to vote for our candidate. If he loses, my Ram8217;s name will be defamed. Ram8217;s town will be defamed. You will be defamed. Don8217;t let my Ram get a bad name.8217;8217;

 

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