PM reaches out to BJP,VHP suspects hidden hand

Government sources told The Indian Express on Thursday the Prime Minister got in touch with top BJP leaders and sought their support and cooperation in maintaining peace.

Leaders of the BJP the party has decided to maintain a studied silence on this issue until the verdict is out denied any interaction with the PM but sources said the ruling party leadership was striving to forge a political consensus to isolate and contain fringe elements.

Sources in the BJP said all its top leaders had been asked to remain in Delhi in anticipation of the verdict.

The VHP,meanwhile,has convened a meeting of sants associated with its dharma sansad religious Parliament to chalk out its strategy. Sources in the VHP said the meeting would go ahead as planned on Friday and Saturday despite the Supreme Court ruling.

VHP leaders said plans were afoot to launch an agitation for the construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya,although many in the BJP feel the issue has lost its potency and political relevance.

The Congress leadership is said to have concluded that the dispute wasnt as emotive an issue as it was in the 1980s and early 90s but it cant take any chances given that its the ruling party at the Centre and faces elections in Bihar.

The Congress welcomed the order. The party has throughout believed that this problem can be solved either through talks or if it is not possible then the decision of the court should be acceptable to all, AICC general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said.

While the BJP declined to react,the RSS expressed its unhappiness and the VHP suspected some mahashakti big force at play behind Ramesh Chand Tripathis plea for seeking postponement.

VHP leader Ashok Singhal and RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav ruled out any out-of-court settlement or reconciliation efforts.

Previous attempts to resolve the issue through talks have remained futile, VHP President Ashok Singhal said.

Singhal said,A non-entity,insignificant person like Tripathi managed a defer the verdict when the nine major parties in the title suit are against reconciliation. It seems some big forces were behind Tripathi who helped him.

Other issues more important: Rahul

Guwahati: Responding to a question on whether he thinks it is worthwhile to spend so much time and energy over deciding whether there should be a temple or mosque at the disputed site in Ayodhya,Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said: My personal view is that there are many fundamental issues that are much more important,like infrastructure,the type of education we are providing to our youngsters and the type of technology we use. PTI