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Singhal wants Parliament to enact legislation on Ayodhya

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad president, Ashok Singhal, on Wednesday reiterated the organisation's demand for a legislation by the Parliament for entrusting the disputed Ayodhya shrine to Hindus.

"I am firmly of the view that the Ayodhya dispute cannot be resolved by any court of law. Courts are in no position to adjudicate on questions of religious faith. Here is a case of faith of millions of Hindus," Singhal said.

Asked what evidence VHP had in support of their claim that Lord Ram was born at the disputed site, he shot back, "Well the basis lies in the belief of millions of people. After all it is not possible to now bring Kaushalya [Ram's mother] to tell the world that Ram was born at that spot."

But he declined to make any comment on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's decision to not issue a fresh notification in the Babri Mosque demolition case.

He listed a VHP schedule detailing a series of mass campaigns over the next three months to mobilise 'Ram Bhakts' into spreading VHP's word on the temple.

"Soon you will find millions of people coming out in the open to demand a legislation," he said.

He cited the special enactment of Parliament in the Shah Bano case as justification for his demand. In the Shah Bano case the Supreme Court had given a ruling that differed with the Muslim personal law's interpretation on the payment of compensation to a divorced wife.

But Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, who is also the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, drew a distinction between the Shah Bano case and the Ayodhya issue.

"Shah Bano case was a matter in which issues involved only one community -- Muslims. On the other hand, in the Ayodhya affair both Hindus and Muslims are involved, making the two cases incomparable," he said.

The Ayodhya Issue: Complete Coverage

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