The Hindu : Temple at Ayodhya, national honour: RSS

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Saturday, Jul 05, 2003

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National

Temple at Ayodhya, national honour: RSS

By Our Staff Reporter

KANYAKUMARI JULY 4. The construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya is a matter of national self-respect and honour, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh wanted all parties to view the issue in that perspective and facilitate construction either through negotiation or the intervention of Parliament, the RSS spokesman, Ram Madhav, has said.

Claiming that the three temples at Ayodhya, Mathura and Kasi should be restored on the lines of the Somnath temple which was rebuilt shortly after India attained Independence, Mr. Madhav said a lasting solution to the Ayodhya issue could be attained either through negotiations with the Muslim Law Board or by the intervention of Parliament. The RSS wanted the temple to be built at the place where the idol of Ram Lala was sitting, he said.

Briefing the media on a two-day national executive meet of the RSS which begins tomorrow at the Vivekananda Kendra here, Mr. Madhav said the RSS wanted the Ramjanmabhoomi to be handed over to Hindus to facilitate the construction of the temple. Though the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswati's intention in negotiating with the Muslim Law Board was well intended, it should reflect the views the RSS on the issue, he said adding a lot depended on the decision made by the Vajpayee Government, which had to discharge the functions of a coalition government. Asked if the RSS would accept any peaceful solution brought on the issue by the Kanchi Acharya, he said the situation of accepting or rejecting any solution would not arise if the solution accommodated the RSS's views on the temple.

The RSS respected the independence and authority of the Prime Minster and the Deputy Prime Minister, and would not want them to step down over the issue. Senior leaders including K.S. Sudarshan, Sarsanghachalak, Mohanrao Bhagwat and Sarkaryavah would guide the proceedings of the meeting which would be attended among others by H.V. Seshadri, Madandas Devi, Ashok Singhal, Moropant Pingle, Dattopant Thengdi and Sanjay Joshi.

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