NEW DELHI, June 15: The war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Opposition parties on the Ayodhya issue continued today. While the former favoured the resolution of the Ayodhya imbroglio through Constitutional means, the Congress voiced its apprehension today that the Uttar Pradesh government could handover the 64 acres of parikrama land to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to facilitate construction of the temple."We want to be assured that no such deal will be done," party spokesperson Salman Khursheed said.
But the BJP sought to allay all such fears, especially after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's assurance made in Parliament that the Government would go strictly by the court verdict.
"It is our firm view that the temple should be constructed at the disputed site, but only after the Supreme Court gave its final verdict," party vice-president K L Sharma told reporters today.
Asked what his party's stand would if the court passed an adverse judgement, he indicated that the Governmentcould then consider passing a legislation. "After all, we have a precedence when the Apex Court's judgement in the Shah Bano case was circumvented by Parliament," he said.
He felt that the entire issue was being needlessly raked up by Opposition parties even after a categorical assurance from Vajpayee that no unauthorised structure would be allowed to come up at the disputed site. The Congress spokesperson asked Vajpayee whether his stand that he would abide by the judicial verdict on the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue was a "strategy" in power or a categorical assurance given to the people of the country.
The PM's statement, Khurshid said, that he would go by the judicial verdict was indeed welcome and the Congress believed that it was a solemn assurance. "We want to know if his statement came because of pressures from some of his supporting parties. We hope he realises his responsibility," he remarked.
Describing the temple issue as "sensitive" and having a bearing a relationship between thecommunities, the spokesman said the Congress shared the concern of other Opposition parties that the people should not be divided on this issue. Expressing his anxiety over the delay in judicial proceedings, the BJP vice-president urged the courts to arrive at an early decision.
"Had the Allahabad HC passed its judgement before December 11, the events that took place at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992 could have been averted," he claimed. He, however, hastened to add that his party would abide by the court verdict. "Our conduct in the past proves this point," he said.
He lashed out at the Left parties for presenting a report which was not even backed by evidence. "They have not been able to present a single evidence that could prove that laws were being violated or that there was any contravention of court orders," he added.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
