BJP should do penance: Singhal

LUCKNOW: BJP should do penance for dragging Ram Mandir issue into vote bank politics, VHP president Ashok Singhal said here. Addressing the media on Monday, Singhal said that Ayodhya temple was a matter of faith for millions of Hindus and all attempts made in the past by the saffron party at capitalising on it - including Lal Krishna Advani's Rath Yatra - were strictly avoidable.

"In fact, Atalji was not at all in favour of rath yatra," Singhal claimed on Monday even Advani must feel contrite that the temple could not be reconstructed, he added. "Politicians who oppose the temple in Ayodhya by raising bogey of communal discord have Muslim appeasement on their mind. Ram belongs to every Hindu and BJP has no copyright on it. Even Narsimha Rao shared similar sentiments. This probably accounts for delayed action post demolition and acquisition of 60 acres of land in Ayodhya by him," he said.

Hitting out at Union home minister P Chidambaram for his `saffron terrorism' remarks, Singhal said that the insinuation was highly derogatory and has tarnished, in one sweep, the image of all saints and seers in India. "Sant Samaj is known for its moderate and peaceful approach. Equating them with terrorist before top police officers was a highly injudicious act on part of the home minister," he said.

Singhal elaborated upon the Hanumat Shakti Jagran Yatra Anushthan, the four-month long awareness campaign launched by the VHP on August 16, and hoped that it would build up consensus for Ram Temple. "There are 5.45 lakh villages in India and the yatra will have Hanuman Chalisa recitation session in each of their temples. This programme finalised by the a core body of saints in Hardwar Kumbh," he said, "This was reminiscent of the shilapujan where shilas were taken to each village."

The mandir, as per their directions, shall be constructed by putting together the pieces crafted in the `karyashala' (workshop) where 60% of the work is already complete, he said. Moreover, they have ruled out a mosque within Sanskritik Seema (cultural boundary), Singhal pointed out. "However, the matter could be amicably resolved through by an act passed by parliament. The government was forced to drop the Ram setu issue in the face of massive public outrage. The same pressure could work in favour of mandir nirman," he said. Finally, the option to go to Supreme Court if need be, is always open to us, Singhal said.

The VHP president also took a potshot at chief minister Mayawati for trying to turn UP into fortress in run-up to the court's judgment. "Evoking fear is the last thing on minds of Muslims or Hindus. Only few Talibanis among Muslim and the bible-and-rifle-brigade in northeast are trying to spread terror. They need to be contained," he said.