Author: PTI
Publication: The Hindu
Date: May 31, 2003
Seeking to put at rest the controversy
over its stand on the Ayodhya issue, the BJP today categorically told its
cadres from the minority community that it favoured construction of a grand
Ram temple at the Ram Janambhoomi site and a mosque outside a five kilometre
radius of the disputed site- a demand echoed by Sangh Parivar.
Asserting that BJP was not a "construction
company" to build temples and mosques, party general secretary and spokesman
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "We want a grand Ram temple to be built at the
Ram Janamsthan and we are not against the Muslims building a mosque at
a location of their choice outside the Panchkosi Parikrama."
Addressing the national executive
of the party's Minority Morcha, he said the party wanted an immediate settlement
to the issue as it was being exploited by vested interests to divide Hindus
and Muslims and divert attention from the social and economic issues affecting
the minority community.
"Attempts are being made by the
opposition and so-called secular forces to mislead and confuse the people
on the sensitive issue," Naqvi said.
It was at a social harmony rally
organised by Naqvi at Rampur that party president M Venkaiah Naidu suggested
construction of a mosque alongside the temple at Ayodhya, leading to sharp
reactions from both Sangh Parivar outfits and Muslim organisations.
Naidu later retracted saying he
was "misunderstood" by the media, but the confusion remained.
