New Delhi, Oct 16: In an apparent bid to avoid any confrontation with the Centre, UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today said that security forces in Ayodhya and elsewhere in the state will not fire a single bullet on Ram bhakts who would be allowed to perform their puja peacefully. "We will not fire a single bullet on Ram bhakts. They would be allowed to perform their pujas peacefully," he told reporters here before leaving for Lucknow. He had come here last night from Bhopal where he had gone to address a rally.
Yadav said that he was not for any confrontation with the Centre on the issue.
Yadav's climb down apparently came following his telephonic conversation yesterday with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani who had advised him not to adopt a confrontationist attitude and prevent VHP workers from entering Ayodhya for their rally on October 17.


Advani had told Yadav that since assurances had been given by top RSS leaders including its chief K S Sudarshan and the VHP that their programme would remain peaceful, confrontation should be avoided.

Advani also told Yadav that keeping these assurances in mind, the Centre had also decided not to stop the trains from going to Faizabad and Ayodhya or nearby places.

Yadav, according to a home ministry spokesman, told Advani that he would hold discussions with state government officials and revert back to him.
Voicing concern over "deterioration" of the situation in Ayodhya following the arrest VHP leaders, minister of state for home Swami Chinmayananda yesterday demanded release of the arrested leaders to allow peaceful holding of 'Sankalp Sabha' at a venue outside the religious township.

Bureau Report