The indefinite satyagraha, demanding the handing over of the "undisputed" land in Ayodhya to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, will start as per schedule on March 27 at the Gandhi Maidan in New Delhi, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad said on Tuesday.

VHP vice-president Giriraj Kishore said, "The VHP had set a deadline of March 27 before the government to hand over the undisputed land... That deadline is about to end and, therefore, we have decided to begin the satyagraha..."

On the first day, VHP president Vishnu Hari Dalmiya and international working president Ashok Singhal will participate in the satyagraha, he said, adding that around 30,000 people will join them.

One lakh food packets will be distributed in two shifts on the first day and on the second the figure will halve, according to him.

Regarding the arrest in Madhya Pradesh of VHP leader Acharya Dharmendra in connection with an "inflammatory" speech, Kishore said, "There is no question of the Acharya tendering an apology as sought by the chief minister [Digvijay Singh]...

"The case will be a long drawn battle... the Acharya will seek bail and reach Delhi, as his services are needed at the satyagraha."

The VHP leader also asked the Centre to declare Jammu and Kashmir a disturbed area and take swift action against terrorists.

Taking serious note of the killing of 24 Kashmiri Pandits in J&K on Monday, Kishore said, "Killing of innocent people is a blot on the nation and the major responsibility for this failure lies on Mufti Mohammed Sayeed-led coalition government in the state."