Author: Sunita Aron
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: October 24, 2001
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad is in
a defiant mood. Even after Prime Minister Vajpayee said in Lucknow that
the storming of the disputed structure at Ayodhya had harmed his efforts
to find an amicable solution to the temple dispute, the VHP is all set
to launch its second phase of countrywide programme from November 1.
The VHP will mobilise support for
their "temple construction programme" in Ayodhya. The deadline of March
11, 2002 was fixed by the Hindu saints during Mahakumbh at Prayag.
Come November and VHP activists
will fan out all over the country chanting their 'Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai
Jai Ram' mantra.
Purushottam Narain Singh, VHP's
Uttranchal and Uttar Pra-desh organising secretary said, "We are committed
to temple construction and there is no change in our programme even if
the Prime Minister disapproves it".
Content with the first phase of
jalabhishek programme held in 92,000 temples in the country, the VHP proposes
to start 'sidh kheshtras' in all the 7,500 blocks in the country starting
November 1.
Thereafter, the VHP will begin its
65-day programme of collective 'sankalp' for the temple construction.
Narain Singh said VHP leaders had
approved the programme at its Ayodhya meet on October 15.
Kar Sewaks will meet in Ayodhya
on February 17 next year.
This coincides with Basant Panchami
and the Assembly elections that are likely to be held in the first fortnight
of February.
The Bajrang Dal and other wings
of the RSS will chip in for the VHP's programmes.
On Vajpayee's statement that the
VHP's actions had only harmed the BJP, Singh said, " Our commitment is
to the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and to Hindutva, not to
the BJP. We are not worried if their votes decrease because of our actions."
