VHP wary as Govt talks Temple

Togadia’s words amount to a caveat to pre-empt a possible attempt by PM A.B. Vajpayee to sort out the Ayodhya issue by sidelining the VHP. His last attempt using the Kanchi Shankaracharya as a mediator failed after VHP put the spanner in the works. Sources said the Government is not inclined to try the Shankaracharya again. It may turn to Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas chief Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.

The BJP is keen on resolving the issue before Lok Sabha polls so that it can claim: ‘‘we did what we said’’. There is so much bitterness between Vajpayee and VHP president Ashok Singhal now that the PM would not resist the temptation of hijacking the temple issue from the latter and having the last laugh.

‘‘How can it happen in one year, when it has eluded us for 454 years?’’ Togadia asked. ‘‘Some people are talking of some negotiations. I am not aware of them. Thus, they are perceived as attempts to weaken our agitation.’’

He added the VHP would start identifying and listing ‘‘the 30,000 temples which have been demolished and converted to mosques by Muslims. If they don’t withdraw their suit, we will stake our claim to them and extend the dispute to 30,000 thanas across the country.’’ So far, the VHP has been talking of 30,000 mosques only in general terms.