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Temple issue : Shiv Sena plans meet at Ayodhya |
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The Ram temple agitation is taking some serious turn with the VHP and Shiv Sena’s efforts to create public attention. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Shiv Sena will convene a Ram Bhakt Sammelan (Conference of ‘devotees’ of Lord Rama) at Ayodhya on October 11, six days ahead of a similar meeting organised by the VHP at the same venue to mount pressure for construction of a Ram temple there. Deputy Prime Minister Advani has expressed the confidence that a temple would be built in Ayodhya at the same place where the people wanted and with co-operation from all the communities. Advani has said the people in the country had overcome all crises and they would similarly solve the Ayodhya problem
The Sena has decided to go ahead with its programme even if the VHP, which has been invited to join in, decides not to participate. The Sena will not take part in the VHP’s programme on October 17 in Ayodhya, the party’s leader in the Lok Sabha, Chandrakant Khaire, told mediapersons. The VHP has organised rallies in New Delhi and Lucknow from October 15, which will culminate in a meeting in Ayodhya on October 17. Khaire said that they would go ahead with the meeting at the Ram Katha Park though the Faizabad District Magistrate had not yet given them permission. “Our sammelan was planned in June and the venue paid for in July. If the administration gives us permission, everything will be smooth. If they do not, then let them arrest us.”
According to Khaire, who is in charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs, the meeting had the “blessings” of the late chief of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas (Trust), Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das. It will be attended by, among others, the Nyas’ new chief, Nitya Gopal, Vasudevanand Saraswati of Jyotishpeeth and Ramanujacharya. The Sena chief, Bal Thackeray, and his son, Udhav Thackeray, would not attend, but had “blessed’’ the programme being organised by the U.P. party unit. The next phase of the temple “movement” would be decided under the leadership of Udhav Thackeray followed by a national movement under Bal Thackeray, the Sena leader said. Sena leaders Subhash Desai and Satish Pradhan would address the meet, which would be attended by all Sena MPs. Two resolutions would be adopted: one would ask the Centre to set up a special Bench of the Supreme Court to which all cases in lower courts and tribunals should be referred for a time-bound decision on the Ayodhya issue. The second would seek the handing over of the Government-acquired land to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas (Trust).
VHP appeal to Muslims
Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia speaking on Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura, for the very first time addressed a Muslim-dominated audience. He said that Muslims must give up all claims to the disputed site in Ayodhya, and if they did not do this, Ayodhya would be “taken by force” closing forever the possibility of Hindu-Muslim amity. He said that if the Sunni Wakf Board did not withdraw all claims to the disputed site in Ayodhya, Muslims could forget about Hindu-Muslim bhaichara (brotherhood) and be “prepared for the creation of a Hindu Rashtra, for that was the direction towards which we are headed.” He warned that, if need be, Hindus would take Ayodhya by force, for “Hindus were willing to become suicide bombers” to meet their goals.
The meeting was organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party Minority Morcha and, among others, Jagatguru Shankaracharya Madhavanand Saraswati, Maulana Mufti Naeem Ahmed and the BJP general secretary, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, participated. The idea was to start a dialogue on the issue of Ayodhya. Togadia said at the very outset that he would not “speak sweet words” but the “bitter truth” and they (Muslims) must know how Hindus felt.
“We no longer have confidence in Muslim leadership, not even in Atalji (Prime Minister) or Sonia (Congress president)” and he warned that “neither the BJP nor the Congress can protect Muslims, as they could not in Gujarat.” Only the “love of Hindus” could offer them any protection, he said.
As Togadia continued, Maulana Ahmed, who had spoken earlier, intervened but Togadia continued with his speech. The Maulana intervened once again and said that “Hindus and Muslims cannot go anywhere, they have to live together. Is it proper to make such remarks?”
Earlier, the Maulana had spoken about Islam as a religion that preached universal brotherhood, not terrorism. He lamented that recently all Muslims had become objects of distrust and suspicion. If there were a few who had done wrong and taken to terrorism, all those expressing that faith must not be condemned, for such elements were there among people of all faiths. Sri Madhavanand Saraswati felt that the Muslims must give up their claim to the disputed site, especially in the wake of the Archaeological Survey of India report on the recent excavations in Ayodhya.
Parties allowed to visit the excavated site
The Allahabad High Court, hearing the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit, has allowed all parties in the case to visit the excavated site along with their experts, counsels nominees and photographers.
On an application filed by the Sunni Central Waqf Board, the Lucknow Bench of the High Court allowed the visit to the site and go inside the trenches for the purpose of study, observation and stratification, and to take photographs.
The three-member Special Bench, comprising Justice S.R. Alam, Justice Bhawar Singh and Justice Khemkaran, directed that during the inspection, the two observers, two archaeologists deputed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the authorised persons or his nominated officer should remain present. The authorised person, in consultation with the PWD Chief Engineer shall take all steps for the security and safety of the site.
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