M A I N   N E W S

RSS gives govt a year on temple

New Delhi, March 17
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh today gave the Vajpayee government a year’s time to remove hurdles in the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya, saying there was a limit to people’s patience.

Talking to mediapersons about a resolution passed by the RSS national general council today, endorsing the Dharma Sansad’s decision to go ahead with the construction of the temple after Shivaratri next year, Sangh spokesman M.G. Vaidya said: “we have already waited for about nine years for a judicial solution to the problem. Afterall, there is a limit to people’s patience.”

Asked as to what the government could do in this regard, Mr Vaidya said about 80 per cent of the acquired land in Ayodhya was undisputed and that could be given to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas for starting construction of the temple.

The resolution passed unanimously by the 1200-strong Pratinidhi Sabha noted that the Dharma Sansad called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad during the Maha Kumbh had given the government sufficient time to “do away with the hurdles which have been obstructing the temple construction over almost a decade”.

Mr Vaidya said the RSS was not satisfied with the government’s efforts in this direction and that’s why the Sangh had passed the resolution on Ayodhya at its general council meeting.

To a question as to whether the Vajpayee government would not find it difficult to accept their demand in view of the opposition of other NDA constituents, he said the government would have to respect the sentiments of the people and the pressure of public opinion would be felt by the entire NDA government.

Asked if the RSS was ready to sacrifice the government on the Ram Temple issue, Mr Vaidya said: “The government should be prepared to face the consequences of whatever decision it takes on the matter.” He, however, said the objective could be achieved without sacrificing the government.

He exhorted the “patriotic population” of the country to participate in various programmes announced by the Dharma Sansad aimed at mobilisation of public opinion on the issue. In this context, he referred to the nationwide ‘jalabhishek’ programmes and the Sansad Yatra from Ayodhya to Delhi.

The resolution called upon “enlightened Muslims to come forward courageously to lead the co-religionists who have been held in the grip of a few obscurantist, fundamentalist self-professed exponents of Islam in the religious or political field”. UNI