The move was aimed at diverting public attention from its failures on the governance front, Congress spokesman Salman Khursheed told newsmen here.``The BJP and the Sangh Parivar continue their audacious campaign to defy public opinion and court orders in the matter of Ayodhya,'' he said.

Recent statements of VHP leader Ashok Singhal about carving of pillars and building blocks for the temple edifice in Sirohi district in Rajasthan, and transferring them in a clandestine manner to Ayodhya, ``are obviously indicative of its moves to once again divert public attention,'' he said.

CPI general secretary A B Bardhan claimed preparations are in an advanced stage with ``full state protection and patronage.''

Nearly 150 of the 212 pillars that would hold up and adorn the proposed temple are more or less ready in three workshops in Rajasthan where 75 artisans areengaged, he claimed in an article to be published in the forthcoming issue of CPI's central organ `New Age'.

``The preparations are clandestine in nature. The Rajasthan government is providing full police protection and security to the workshops,'' he said, adding when ready, the pillars would be transported by trucks to Ayodhya.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Hari Shankar Bhabhra today denied the charge levelled by CPI that the pillars for the proposed Ayodhya temple were being constructed in Rajasthan under police protection.

``The charge is nothing but a flight of imagination as the State Government has nothing to do with the VHP programme,'' Bhabhra said while reacting sharply to Bardhan's assertion.

``Why should the government provide police protection and security to the workshop of the VHP which is allegedly preparing stone pillars?``What is there which requires security?'' he asked.

He said the State Government was not aware of the VHP preparations and the CPI general secretarywas just playing politics by leveling ``false'' charges.

He expressed regret that the CPI was ``stooping low to spread false canard against the BJP government in the State.''