Kozhikode, Jan 18: The Hindus have absolute right over the Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi temples and no power on earth can deny this right to them, reiterated Ashok Singhal, working president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.Addressing mediapersons at the Press Club here on Saturday, he said that the existence of a mosque on the premises of the Mathura temple was solely due to the tolerance of the Hindus. Singhal, however, said that the VHP was prepared to wait till a legislation was made for construction of a temple at Ayodhya.
Justifying the demolition of the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, Singhal said that by this action the Hindus were sending a message that they wanted respect.
Criticising the policy of secularism followed by the Congress, Singhal said that in the name of secularism more religious sects are being created. ``It is not the Congress which brought secularism in the country, and Hinduism which tolerates all religious faiths is synonymous with secularism,'' he asserted.
Singhal said that in the
name of religion armed liberation movements were coming up in the north eastern parts of the country and no State could tolerate the formation and development of such movements. Singhal demanded the enactment of a law to prevent the forcible conversions taking place in many parts of the country and said that temples should be administered not by governments but by autonomous bodies.
He said the VHP wanted a total ban on cow slaughter and export of cow meat, and take measures to hand over the temples at Rama Janmabhumi, Mathura and Kashi to the Hindus.
Answering a question on Sonia Gandhi's entry into Congress' poll campaign, Singhal said she was just a housewife and that she should first explain her role in Bofors deal.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
