PM defends Ayodhya move

Turning to obviously the hardliners within Parivar, Vajpayee said: 8216;8216;No issue can justify confrontation and communal violence. Law and national interests are supreme.8217;8217;

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu today positioned himself close to the BJP, contrary to the hard line taken by his parliamentary group leader Yerran Naidu earlier. The latter had vowed to oppose the BJP move in Parliament.

Though the Chief Minister has mastered the art of trading his support at every crucial juncture for a major concession from Vajpayee in cash or kind, it was not clear whether the latest climb-down by the TDP is without any strings attached to it.

When asked whether the BJP would try to encash the issue in the current Assembly polls, Naidu said: 8216;8216;These issues will not help. It is only the performance of the government that will help.8217;8217;

Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas chairman Mahant Ramchandradas Paramhans declared at Jalgaon last night that the 8220;Ram temple would be built at any cost within 18 months.8221; He did not foresee any problem in the Nyas getting the undisputed land as senior ministers at the Centre were sympathetic to the cause.