Ram temple: Two-yr deadline to UPA lapses

Ayodhya, Feb 24 (UNI) The VHP today denied allegations that the Ram temple issue had been ''forgotten'' as no headway had been made in the construction despite the expiry of the two-year deadline given to the UPA government to clear all hurdles in this regard.

''The temple construction movement was underway under the auspices of the Saints and Dharamacharyas and it will be intensified on the their directions,'' VHP state media in charge Sharad Sharma said.

'' The stone carving work is not being carried out at present in the workshop due to shortage of space,'' he added.

Soon after the formation of the UPA government, the saints and the dharamacharyas had given it a two-year period to clear all the obstacles in the construction of the temple at the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi site.

Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas president Mahant Nrityagopal Das had then announced that the government was being given two years time after which the saints and the dharamacharyas would formulate further strategies.

The Nyas president had said '' akin to the time provided to the previous NDA government, the UPA regime is being given time over the temple construction issue.'' ''The temple movement will be intensified, if nothing is done by the UPA government in the given time,'' he had said.

When contacted, the saints of the holy city told UNI '' the temple will be constructed.'' UNI XC-JAS MB RR KP1445