Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: February 21, 2003
Playing the 'Hindutva' card, Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday advocated the cause of building
a Ram temple in Ayodhya and said he would prefer to die than eat beef.
"We want to build the Ram temple
in Ayodhya. We are confident that it will be proved by historical evidence
that a temple existed there," he said addressing his first election rally
in Himachal Pradesh.
"However, if it is not, then let
the courts decide and we will abide by it. Let the Congress say whether
it will accept the verdict if the existence of Ram temple is proved," he
said.
He dared the Congress to clarify
its position on Ayodhya and cow slaughter. Stung by the reported allegation
of the Congress in MP that he ate beef, Mr Vajpayee said, "I prefer to
die rather than eat beef. Though cow slaughter in most of the country is
banned, he will enact legislation to plug the loophole."
The PM said he had written about
all the allegations levelled against him by the Congress in Madhya Pradesh
to Sonia Gandhi "but she has not responded. Do ask her when she comes here,"
he urged the audience.
In an apparent reference to the
sex scandals allegedly involving Punjab ministers, Mr Vajpayee said, "Women
are being humiliated. It should not happen. Women should be respected."
Regretting the declining standards
of political discourse in the country, Mr Vajpayee said, "I feel sad. We
have never indulged in mud-slinging because we don't have mud with us.
Our unity as a nation should not be affected at any cost."
Mr Vajpayee also ruled out the resumption
of a dialogue with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. PTI
