Mosque on disputed site in Ayodhya unacceptable, SC must decide in time: VHP

Turning on the heat on the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has declared that a mosque at the disputed site was unacceptable to it.

The radical right wing organisation also said that it is pressurising the Narendra Modi-led central government to pass a law for building the Ram Temple in case the Supreme Court which is adjudicating the dispute, fails to deliver its verdict by 2018.

Mosque in disputed site unacceptable

The Ayodhya issue was the core agenda at the VHP’s Governing Council meeting where it resolved to urge the apex court for hearing the case on a day-to-day basis and delivers the verdict by October when it intends to start building a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya.

The two-day meeting at the national capital which concluded on Monday (June 25), was the first after the change of leadership earlier in the year. In April former Rajasthan High Court judge VS Kokje was elected as the international president. He defeated former VHP chief Pravin Togadia’s aide Raghav Reddy.

Informing about the agenda of the meeting, VHP Working President Alok Kumar said building the Ram Temple at Ayodhya was the organisation’s prime objective.

“The Supreme Court has already clarified that it is treating the case as a title dispute and adjudicate only about the ownership of the disputed land. Whether a mosque should be built or not at the site, does not come under its jurisdiction. Any mosque at the disputed site is not and will not be acceptable to us,” said Kumar.

While insisting that the VHP wanted the Ram temple to be built legally, Kumar said that in case there is delay by the Supreme Court in giving verdict, it will then decide on the future course of action.

“We are keenly observing the proceedings before the Supreme Court and we urge it to hear the case on a day to day basis. We will observe till July and if we see that the court doesn’t appear to be in a position to deliver the verdict in 3-4 months, we will talk to seers from across the country and then chalk out the future course of action.

“We want the judicial process to end in a timely manner and want the temple to be built either through court order or through a law. We will push the Centre for enacting a law for building the temple in case there is delay in the SC,” he said.

Togadia’s organisation won’t last long

Kumar also took a swipe at ousted VHP chief Togadia and his newly launched outfit Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP).

“Any organisation which is created out of jealousy, personal ambition and copying doesn’t last for long. I have seen the posters of his new outfit, the logo and the name are copied from the VHP. We don’t think his organisation can do us any harm,” said Kumar.

Asked if there was any chance of a reconciliation with the estranged Togadia, Kumar replied: “the doors are open, it is for him to decide”.

Togadia who has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP for ditching the issue of Ram temple, has asserted his new outfit is aimed at consolidating Hindu votes in the country and present a political alternative to the BJP ahead of the next general elections.

Launching his outfit on June 24, Togadia said the AHP’s priorities are building Ram Temple in Ayodhya and bringing a law to ban nationwide cow slaughter- two of the prime objectives of the VHP.

Cow Ministry at Centre and states

At the Governing Council meeting, the VHP also passed a resolution seeking a “Ministry for Cow Progeny Protection, Preservation and Promotion”, both at the Centre and all states. It also demanded that a law banning cow slaughter be enforced in the entire country.

The VHP said the Constitution under the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) provides for banning cow slaughter, as such the Centre should honour that and endeavor to create a cow ministry.

Rohingyas a great threat to India’s security

The VHP also passed a resolution declaring the influx of Rohingya Muslims in the country as threat to both internal and external security.

To deal with the issue of Rohingya “infiltration”, the VHP demanded the government to enact a law providing push back of the all the Rohingyas, completely seal the Indo-Bangladesh border and deploy additional security forces along with the BSF at the borders.

It also demanded that a Parliamentary Committee be formed that shall deal with the infiltration issue on an urgent basis and deport the infiltrators without delay.

The VHP also urged the people of the country to socially and economically boycott Rohingyas and hand them over to the police.