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Construction of Ram temple to begin
after March: Ashok Singhal

The decision regarding the temple construction would be taken at a meeting of sadhus on January 21 at Allahabad, he told UNI at Gaggal airport in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh on Friday.

He said the people's sentiments for a Ram temple in Ayodhya should not be ignored by politicians and all Parliamentarians and even Muslims should understand and respect this.

The carving of stones to be used in the construction of the first floor of the temple would be completed by March next, he informed.

Revealing that kar sewaks (volunteers) for the temple construction were being enlisted, the VHP chief said, ''Hundreds of sadhus, saints and religious heads and their followers have taken a united stand on the issue," he added.

"I am sure all politicians will stop intervening in this religious project,'' he said, adding that those opposing the construction were 'fighting a loosing battle and had been exposed as anti-Hindus'.

Regarding the prime minister's stand on the issue, Singhal said Vajpayee needs to understand the issue in the right perspective.

Singhal later arrived in Dharamsala on Friday afternoon and called on Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama at Mcleodganj.

Describing Dalai Lama as the ''holiest figure of India'', the VHP leader said he requested him to spare his time for spreading the message of love, peace and brotherhood in the country. The Dalai Lama had agreed to this request, he added.

UNI

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