Will react within law to adverse verdict,says RSS chief

The BJP has adopted silence as its policy in the run-up to the Ayodhya title suit verdict expected on September 24.

The BJP has adopted silence as its policy in the run-up to the Ayodhya title suit verdict expected on September 24 but Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat today underlined that in the event of an unfavourable verdict,all legal options would be exercised and the Sanghs reactions will be within the democratic ambit of the law and the Constitution.

Terming the Ram temple movement aastha ka prashn a question of faith,Bhagwat said that the judgment will only be a High Court verdict and theres always the recourse of going to the Supreme Court. He was speaking at the Indian Women Press Corps IWPC.

Saying he did not anticipate any violence,Bhagwat reaffirmed the Sanghs commitment to building a Ram temple on the site and said that it could actually help heal the Hindu-Muslim rift if Muslims allow the temple to be built.

It is about the identity of the nation8230;In an independent nation,what is the basic problem in building a temple,why should anybody object to it? There is a lot of mistrust between people on various issues including the Ram temple issue. I believe that this issue will help in bringing integration to the country8230;If today the Muslims say that let a Ram Mandir be built at the site,no one will be able to say in India that Indian Muslims are videsh parast inclined towards outsiders8230;there are several temples in India,why is this temple so important? This is Ram Janmabhoomi,why is this small issue not understood? In our independent nation,a Ram Temple must be built there,thats all, Bhagwat said.

Bhagwat disagreed with Home Minister P Chidambarams use of the term saffron terrorism. He said that while some small incidents that may have taken place should be duly investigated and those responsible even if affiliated to the RSS should be brought to book,the Home Ministers use of the term was undesirable. Hindu dharma aur aatankvad,ye ek na jamne wali jodi hai Terrorism and Hinduism are a mismatch.

Hindu religion is known for its tolerance,said Bhagwat and that this was in contrast to jehadi terrorism, a term used globally. He said the Home Minister should have used such terms more responsibly as Pakistan is already considered a rogue state and such statements imply bracketing India with its neighbour.

Bhagwat also criticised the Centres failure on Kashmir. Is anybody happy about Kashmir? The direction of government policy should be to integrate Kashmir to the maximum at a psychological/mental level8230;to win their trust and to decrease separatist sentiments. This is not happening,hence the situation.

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Endorsing BJP president Nitin Gadkari,he said,Abhi tak theek hai hes fine so far. He,however,denied having handpicked Gadkari and said he was selected from among two-three candidates and all he did was discuss the issue with some BJP members.

Meanwhile,the BJPs ally in Bihar,the JDU,preparing for elections,has also sounded a note of caution on the Ayodhya verdict. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told The Indian Express: Our stand is clear. There should be a negotiated settlement or a court verdict. Now that a court verdict is due,everyone should accept it. Anyone who is aggrieved,anyone who is not happy with it,can appeal in the Supreme Court. There is no scope,and no support,for those who promote disharmony in Bihar.

Asked what steps had been taken to this effect,he said: Everyone has been put on notice in Bihar8230;Instructions have been given and people have been sensitised8230;We are administratively and politically ready for it the verdict and its aftermath.