VHP warns of `Hindu backlash'
By The HINDU

NEW DELHI, FEB. 20. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today warned of a ``Hindu backlash'' against those daring to oppose the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya on March 15, even as it made it clear that nothing would now delay the project even for a day.

Several VHP leaders spoke simultaneously from different parts of the country - Ashok Singhal and Acharya Giriraj Kishore here, Praveen Togadia from Jaipur and Sadanand Kakade from Kochi - as if to hammer home the point that they are determined to start gathering the crowds of `kar sevaks' (voluntary workers) at Ayodhya from this weekend to get a 10 lakh-strong crowd by March 15 when construction would begin at the `pravesh dwar' (entrance of the temple), where `shilanyas' was performed in the late Eighties.

`Sonia anti-Hindu'

Mr. Togadia, VHP general-secretary, lashed out at the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, for refusing to entertain a delegation although time was sought from her. Describing her as ``Hindu drohi'' (anti-Hindu), Mr. Togadia said that other political leaders such as J. Jayalalithaa of the AIADMK and Sharad Pawar of the NCP had met VHP leaders to listen to their point of view even if they did not agree with it. Political parties opposing the proposed temple would face a ``Hindu backlash''.

The VHP leaders did not spare even the Prime Minister. Acharya Giriraj Kishore said the Ayodhya cell set up by Atal Behari Vajpayee was ``useless and powerless'', and there had been ``no move by the Government'' to try and resolve the issue. He dismissed the suggestion that perhaps the date for the start of construction was decided with a view to creating problems for the new government in Uttar Pradesh. ``It is not a question of which government; it is a question of our faith.'' The hint was that the VHP would not change its programme irrespective of whether a BJP government or another was installed in Lucknow.

Acharya Kishore dismissed the RSS suggestion that a mosque could be built on the banks of the Sarayu in Ayodhya. There was nothing new in that; the VHP had offered to move the Babri Masjid ``anywhere'' away from the disputed site even before its demolition in 1992. However, Mr. Singhal said no mosque would be allowed to come up anywhere near the proposed temple as it could lead to confrontation between the two communities.

It was Mr. Kakade who disclosed that the plan was to start construction from the `pravesh dwar'.

In direct opposition to what Mr. Vajpayee said recently, the leaders rejected the idea of a solution to the issue through a court verdict. No court could decide where Lord Ram was born. It was a matter of faith, they emphasised, repeating what they have been saying for the last 15 years.

Food articles sent

PTI reports from Jaipur:

Mr. Togadia flagged off a convoy of trucks carrying edible oil and other food articles for the `Ram bhakts' congregating in Ayodhya. About 60 per cent of the stone carving work has been completed, enough to construct one storey of the proposed temple, he said, adding that Rs. 16 crore had already been spent on preparatory works.

He said Rs. 7 crores was still in the temple construction fund created by small donations from people across the country.