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VHP secretary admits that work on Ram temple has begun

Vishwa Hindu Parishad central secretary B L Sharma 'Prem' has told a television channel that construction work on the Ram temple in Ayodhya had already begun.

In an interview to Zee TV, to be telecast on Monday, the former member of Parliament was categorical that work had started on the temple.

''...The pillars and stones have started arriving at the site'', he said. The stones were coming from Rajasthan, and work was going on day and night, he added.

The construction work would be completed ''once the atmosphere is OK'', Sharma said. He denied that work had been stopped, but pointed out that pillars had to be put up and idols had to be made.

Asked about the VHP's other demands like Kashi and Mathura, he said it was not only on the VHP's agenda but also on the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. When it was pointed out that it was not on the agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said the Ram Janambhoomi issue was also not initially on the BJP's agenda.

Sharma was confident that declaring India a Hindu state was only a matter of time. ''India is currently a Hindu state, it only has to be declared (a Hindu state) officially. Once the BJP gets a full mandate, India would be officially declared a Hindu state," he added.

UNI

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