Remove Muslim dwelling near Ayodhya temple: Ashok Singhal

Vishwa Hindu Parishad president Ashok Singhal on Tuesday demanded the removal of a Muslim-dominated dwelling near the makeshift Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Singhal was reacting to the central government's plea before the Supreme Court to grant more time to find an amicable solution to the controversy of tightening the security around the makeshift Ram temple in Ayodhya in view of the increased apprehension of terrorist attacks. He said removing the dwelling from near the acquired land was more important.

"While the government had acquired areas where Hindus were living near the makeshift temple, the dwelling in question was left untouched. The driver of the jeep who drove the terrorists to the makeshift temple was a resident of the same locality. The person who had cut the barricading to enable terrorists to sneak inside the complex also lived in the same area," he said.

The VHP leader maintained that while enhanced barricading was necessary, it would be better if the security forces deployed to protect the structure maintained a serious vigil.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium had told a division bench of the Apex court on Monday that the Centre was talking to the parties concerned for finding an amicable solution so that bullet-proof security would be provided around the sanctum sanctorum, where Lord Rama was believed to have been born.

Counsel for petitioner Mohammad Aslam Bhure, however, opposed the request of the Centre on the grounds that it was simply a ploy to construct a permanent structure of the temple at the disputed site. He said the conduct of the government amounted to contempt of the court in view of its status quo order after the demolition of Babri Masjid in December 1992.

The Apex court, however, allowed the request of the Union Home Ministry, seeking more time and directed the matter to be listed in the month of December.

The application was filed by the Centre in May last year, seeking raising of the wall height around the temple to 8.5 ft in view of the increased threat to the makeshift temple after last year's fidayeen attack.