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Temple issue will be solved before March 12: Rajnath
LUCKNOW, DEC. 8. A solution to the Ayodhya issue would be found before the deadline of March 12 next, set by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for starting the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh, said here today.
Speaking at a meet-the-press programme, he expressed hope that the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee's efforts to resolve the issue would yield positive results. On the threat of the VHP to undertake the construction of a temple after the expiry of the deadline, Mr. Singh said the Government was committed to maintaining status quo at the disputed site as directed by the Supreme Court.
The security arrangements around the Ramjanmabhoomi complex had been tightened. Mr. Singh said his party would not make the temple an election issue and charged the Opposition parties with trying to rake up the issue on the eve of elections in the State to derive political mileage. He said the Opposition had raked up the issue to ``instil fear into the minds of the minorities.'' Mr. Singh said his Government would bring a POTO-like ordinance in the State if the legislation failed to get Parliament's approval. Citing incidents of encounters with the terrorists, he said a strict law was required to fight the menace.
The BJP would go to the polls with stability, development and internal security as its main election planks. Mr. Singh said he would ask the voters to support him on the basis of his Government's achievements on all fronts.
Though corruption would not be an issue at the polls, he said he would consider tougher ways to crackdown on corruption if voted back to power. The BJP would enter into an alliance with its allies at the Centre and State to fight the polls in the State. Talks on seat sharing were on, he said adding that no decision had yet been taken on the number of seats to be contested by the BJP. He denied that there were differences over seat sharing. Mr. Singh said he had expressed his desire to contest the elections from the Haidergarh constituency.
The percentage of human rights violations and atrocities on the SCs and STs was far less in the State in comparison to other States, he said. If it was proved that innocent people were killed during recent encounters with naxalites, the Government would pay compensation to the victims.
- PTI, UNI
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