The Hindu : PM's olive branch to VHP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 20, 2003

Front Page

Front Page

PM's olive branch to VHP

By Neena Vyas

RAIPUR JULY 19. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, today expressed his wish to see a Ram temple come up at `Ram Janmasthan' (birthplace of Ram). "That would be good," he said, adding that the Ayodhya problem should be resolved amicably.

Speaking towards the end of the second day of the BJP national executive committee meeting, Mr. Vajpayee offered an olive branch to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, saying that no one wanted the VHP to be kept out of a solution.

In an obvious reference to the criticism by the VHP leaders that the BJP was going back on its own commitment to the temple issue, he said the party today adopted a resolution on this. He asserted that the BJP did what it thought was right, and did not go back on it.

He said that while constructive criticism (from the VHP or anyone else) was welcome, there should be no ugly exchanges of allegations and counter-allegations.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

Legislative option on Ayodhya should be explored: BJP

An escapist exercise, says Congress

PM's olive branch to VHP

Despair, frustration take root among U.S. soldiers in Iraq

BJP's nod for double member constituencies

Jaitly suit against Tehelka chief dismissed

Cong. bid to mollify IUML in Kerala

MGP to pull out of Govt.

18 injured in blast

Another Akali Dal formed

Kelly's death confirmed

Anu Malik injured