'Advani's Rathyatra for party's interest'

Mumbai, Dec 12: Member of Central Guidance Board of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Swami Vishveshwaranand Giri today said former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, who had organised 'Rathyatra' for the Ramjanmabhoomi, had done it in the interest of their own party and later when the party came to power it did not do much for the same.

Vishveshvranand told mediapersons that BJP kept on giving excuses that the party was not in clear majority in Lok Sabha, or kept the issue pending either to appease its friends or to maintain the secular image.

He said the Ramjanmabhoomi agitation became slow for quite some time but now it has reached its final stage and the Supreme Court verdict is expected to come up by March-April next year.

VHP Joint General Secretary Prof Venkatesh Abdeo, who was present during the briefing, said Sri Ramjanmabhoomi construction high power committee at their meeting decided that the Mandir would be constructed at the same place where the idol of 'Ramlalla' was kept and the masjid would not be allowed to be constructed in 'cultural premises' of Ayodhya.

Elaborating about 'cultural premises', Prof Abdeo said it included Ayodhya, Mathura, Kashi and Prayag. He said the Mandir would be constructed under the leadership of the saints who were spearheading the agitation for the last 22 years.

He said VHP International General Secretary Dr Pravin Togadia would address a public meeting on December 17 here on the issue of Sri Ramjanmabhoomi.

Prof Abdeo said the third Vishwa Hindu Sammelan would be organised from February 11 to 13 at Prayagraj. He said the first two 'sammelans' were held at the same place in 1966 and 1979.

About six lakh people from India apart from 100 countries around the world, are expected to attend the conference, he added.

UNI