February 27, 2002

'5'

    The Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani has urged the VHP leaders to abandon their course of action in Ayodhya. In a Statement released to the Press in New Delhi today, Shri Advani said:

    "The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has embarked on a course of action in Ayodhya which is fraught with dangerous consequences. Thousands are sought to be assembled in Ayodhya to take part in a mass exercise which can only lead to flagrant defiance of court orders. It is the duty of Government – in this case, both Central as well as State – to ensure that court orders are not violated by anyone. The developments in Ayodhya can thus precipitate a serious law and order problem. Crores of our countrymen want the Rama Temple to be built at Ayodhya but they want it to be built lawfully and peacefully. As a person who has always felt proud of his association with the Ayodhya movement, I feel that what the VHP is currently engaged in can only cause damage to the great movement. The Government of India is very correct when it says that in the present context this issue can be solved either by agreement among the parties concerned or by a judicial verdict. It certainly cannot be achieved by a confrontation. I, therefore, urge the VHP leaders, more particularly Shri Ashok Singhal whom I hold in high esteem, to abandon their present course of action. If, however, they persist in their present approach, the Government of India would not hesitate to take action against those who defy court orders or create problems for law and order. I would also like to urge religious leaders of both the Hindu as well as Muslim communities to initiate a dialogue to sort out this matter. The country would be happy if the matter is resolved by an agreement between the two communities" .