Raipur, June: Hardening its stand, VHP today opposed construction of any mosque in Ayodhya town and ruled out any compromise on Kashi and Mathura but gave conflicting signals on the issue whether the Ayodhya problem should be settled through negotiations or legislations. It also threatened to intensify its movement for construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya any time after September. While in a resolution passed at a two-day meeting of its governing council, the VHP welcomed any sincere efforts by anyone including the Kanchi Shankaracharya for a negotiated settlement, its international President Ashok Singal told reporters that legislation for construction of the Ram Temple was the only way for early settlement of the issue. In an apparent bid to rope in Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on their side, Singal urged him to come forward and take the initiative for a legislation for construction of the temple. Even if Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee opposes the move, once cleared by BJP's Palampur session, Advani should take the initiative.

"No one wants the central government to collapse and the BJP should talk to its NDA partners and they will all be in favour of the legislation as that is the only way for early settlement of the issue," he told reporters at the conclusion of the council meeting here.

Last week the VHP had rejected any attempts for a negotiated settlement saying only a legislation for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya would solve the problem.
Bureau Report