The VHP on Saturday categorically stated that no third party including Muslims had any role to decide on the fate of the undisputed land in Ayodhya where it planned to carry out ‘bhumi pujan’ on March 15. “The issue of the 43 acres of acquired undisputed land is between the government and the ‘Ram janambhoomi nyas’ and no third party including Muslims has any role in it,” VHP spokesman Veereshwar Dwivedi said when asked about the protests by Muslim organisations against any government move to allow ‘symbolic puja’ there. Asked why the government has not yet lifted any restriction in Ayodhya despite reported assurance to do so, he said, “We have given the government time till March 12.” The All India Muslim Personal Law Board had on Friday opposed any move to allow VHP to conduct ‘symbolic puja’ at the undisputed site in Ayodhya on March 15 and threatened to approach the Supreme Court to stall it.
The VHP spokesman, however, declined to comment on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement that the government will abide by the Supreme Court directions on VHP's programme to carry out 'bhoomi puja' near the disputed site in Ayodhya on March 15. While agreeing to abide by the court verdict on the disputed site, VHP had demanded lifting of restrictions enforced in Ayodhya, allowing 'bhoomi pujan' at the undisputed site on March 15 and returning to the ‘Ram janambhoomi trust’ by June 02 the 43 acres of land to begin temple construction. Bureau Report