VHP8217;s focus back on Ram

NEW DELHI, March 30: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad VHP wants the disputed site in Ayodhya to be immediately restored to the Ramjanmabhoomi Tru...

NEW DELHI, March 30: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad VHP wants the disputed site in Ayodhya to be immediately restored to the Ramjanmabhoomi Trust to facilitate construction of the temple. For this, it will ask the Kalyan Singh Government to promulgate an ordinance.

A resolution to this effect will be adopted by VHP8217;s governing council during its two-day meeting on April 1 and 2 in Faridabad. Petitions will be sent to the Uttar Pradesh Government and to Union Home Minister and BJP president L K Advani.

However, the VHP is likely to maintain a tactical silence on two other contentious issues: Article 370 and the Uniform Civil Code. This has been done in view of the BJP8217;s recent equations with the National Conference and the Telugu Desam Party. On the temple issue, however, VHP8217;s stand is firm. According to a senior governing council member, the VHP proposes to perform the quot;initial construction ceremonyquot; on April 5, the Ramnavami Day in Ayodhya.

The success of the VHP8217;s plans is in doubt for three reasons.One, the pressure from allies, especially Mamata Banerjee and Jayalalitha who have favoured a settlement based on Court verdicts rather than hasty political moves. Two, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee8217;s stated commitment to the politics of quot;consensusquot;. And, three, the batch of Ayodhya title suits still pending in the UP courts.

The VHP8217;s renewed demand comes after the three-day meeting of the pratinidhi sabha of the RSS in Bangalore which ended on March 22. The VHP8217;s representatives in the sabha had a separate session with senior RSS leaders where they apparently got the approval for their temple plans.

The VHP sources, however, claim that they aren8217;t interested in creating any problems for the Vajpayee government as they are only quot;reaffirmingquot; their commitment to the construction of the temple.

The VHP also plans to launch a quot;mass-awakening programmequot; for a legislation seeking ban on cow slaughter although this is not included in the national agenda. The governing council is also set tooppose the construction of the Tehri dam as it quot;obstructs the free flow of the holy Gangesquot;. The VHP, sources said, will join hands with the anti-dam movement led by Sunder Lal Bahuguna and solicit local support against the dam project.