'VHP wants Ram temple construction, not ownership'

Ardh Kumbh Nagar (Allahabad), Jan 18: Announcing the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya will commence anytime this year, the VHP today clarified it was committed to the construction of the temple and will 'never stake a claim for its ownership'.

The two-day VHP 'dharma-sansad' of the Hindu organisation which concluded here last evening resolved to start the construction of the dream temple at Ayodhya anytime during 2007, VHP state spokesperson Sharad Sharma told sources here today.

Refusing to divulge the exact time when the construction work will commence, Mr Sharma said, ''May be a nationwide movement slated to be launched by VHP international general secretary Pravin Togadia in October next could form the spadework for temple construction.'' Addressing the 'Sansad', chairman of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Trust, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das said the construction work will begin at the site where the idol of Ram Lala is installed. He, however, made it clear that the VHP was only committed to the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya and has no intention of staking a claim on its ownership once the temple is built.

''The VHP only wants that the Ram temple be constructed at the place where the idol of Ram Lala stands now. It has no plans to stake a claim on the ownership of the grand temple once it is built,'' Mr Sharma maintained.

Earlier, talking to sources, president of Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad Mahant Gyan Das had termed the two-day VHP dharma sansad as 'bhram sansad' (confused assembly). A sworn adversary of the saffron outfit, Mahant Gyan Das further alleged the VHP was not interested in building the Ram temple, but wanted to derive political benefits for a particular political party from the issue.

He claimed that VHP, if at all the temple is built, aspires capturing it.

The Mahant had also said that only the Akhil Bhartiya Panch Ramanandiya Nirmohi Akhara has the claim over the Ram temple construction and its ownership.

''It is hard to comprehend that when the entire saint community has given blessings to the VHP for temple construction then why Mahant Gyan Dasji, who belongs to Ayodhya only is against VHP plans.

If he is so committed to the issue why did he do nothing for the construction of the temple till now,'' Mr Sharma added.

''Once the Ram temple is constructed the VHP will leave the entire temple in the hands of the saints and will launch the larger movement to unify the Hindu community in the country,'' Mr Sharma added.

Meanwhile, VHP international president Ashok Singhal has made it clear if any attempt is made to construct a mosque in the 'Shastriya Seema' (religious limits) of Ayodhya, the VHP will launch a decisive battle against it. He also asked Hindus across the country to emulate Gujarat, where the community is in a dominant position.

UNI