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BJP rejects VHP's demand for bill on temple

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JUNE 27. The BJP today categorically rejected the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) demand that the party seek a fresh mandate from people if it was unable to bring in legislation for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Responding to the VHP general secretary, Ashok Singhal's observations, the party president, Venkaiah Naidu, told mediapersons here that the legislation route was one of the options available to resolve the dispute but other constitutents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) did not agree to it. ``We (BJP) are committed to the coalition dharma. So, we would not thrust our views on our allies", Mr. Naidu said, adding that he had informed the RSS of his party's position.

Moreover, "we would like to tell the VHP friends that there is no question of the BJP bringing in legislation or coming out of the NDA or quitting the Government", he asserted. However, he reiterated his party's stand of building the temple in `janmasthan' (birthplace) of Lord Ram.

Adverting to the VHP's call to the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, to take the initiative in enacting a law, Mr. Naidu said if at all there was any initiative, it would be that of the BJP.

"There is no Vajpayee initiative, no Advani initiative. Even when we adopted a resolution (on Ayodhya) in the Palampur conference in 1989, it was a collective decision", he recalled.

Describing the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswathi, as one of the most respected sons of this country, Mr. Naidu said the Sankaracharya's initiative was "well-meaning".

He had mooted some proposals, which had been given to Muslim leaders who would meet in the first week of July and decide on them. "Till then, let us wait", the BJP leader said. "When the Government takes a final decision, it will take into confidence everyone including the VHP", he said.

Dismissing as `speculative' some media reports that the BJP wanted to advance the Lok Sabha polls, Mr. Naidu said the elections would be held in 2004. "We leave the issue of timing of the elections to the Government and the Election Commission".

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