No Kashi, Mathura, focus is on building Ram temple: VHP

NEW DELHI: With its movement since 1984 for a Ram temple in Ayodhya having reached a “satisfactory conclusion” after the Supreme Court ruled the disputed land in favour of Hindu groups on Saturday, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) clearly seems to have abandoned the idea of taking up any new temple movement on for Kashi and

Mathura

that it had earlier talked about.


The hardline Hindutva organization, which was formed in 1964, dismissed possibilities of temple movements for Kashi and Mathura in the future. Slamming the former VHP and BJP leader

Vinay Katiyar

’s demand for such a movement, the organisation said, "He used to be 'our leader'", clearly indicating that his views have become irrelevant.

VHP had taken up the cause of similar temple movements in Kashi and Mathura at sites of ancient historical mosques.

The VHP's plan of action is clearer after the Ayodhya verdict. “The focus is now building the grand temple and to create cultural awareness in society. It (the verdict) is not the end of the story but the beginning of a story of building the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya,” said Alok Kumar, working president of VHP, when asked whether movements for Kashi and Mathura.

Asked about Katiyar, one of the prominent Ram Janmabhoomi activists saying that movements for Kashi and Mathura will begin now that the Ayodhya issue verdict has come, Kumar repeatedly said, “He was our leader (wo hamarey neta rahey hain),” making it clear that Katiyar’s statement is not an official VHP line anymore.

Kumar’s clarity on avoiding any controversy by talking of new Hindutva movements at a time when a full majority BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi sits in an office at the Centre was reflected in the way he denied any move for the VHP to resurrect Kashi-Mathura issues.

Kumar said, “the movement was one of its activities. VHP will concentrate on social work including running ‘

Ekal Vidyalaya

’ schools across the country and creating cultural awareness among people, apart from helping with building the temple.

Welcoming Saturday’s SC judgment, the VHP dubbed it a “decisive step” to construct a “grand” temple, while urging the Centre to take speedy steps, adding that there is no deadline that has been set for it to be completed. He claimed 60 % of pillars and beams for the Ram temple are ready. “Today is a day of happiness for Hindus the world over,” Kumar said.