Want temple at same site in Ayodhya: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

Udupi: The three-day Dharma Sansad of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) got underway here on Friday with  Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) chief, Mohan Bhagwat making it clear  there would be no change in the saffron outfits' stand on building a temple in Ayodhya. 

"Our stand is very clear that we need a temple at the Rama Janmabhoomi. There is no question of any change.  But we should ensure that nothing we say or do creates  a hurdle in this process," he told the assembled seers in his keynote address at the inaugural function.

“We’ll construct it (temple). It is not a populist declaration but a matter of our faith. It will not change, It will be constructed there only," he said, but in a significant change of tone, mooted creation of public awareness as well as the need to tread with caution. “We are close to achieving our goal but at this juncture, we should be extra cautious," he said in his address. 

VHP general secretary Champat Raiji said saffron outfits would not climb down from their demand for construction of the temple. “Our stand is clear since 1984. We want a temple at Ram Janmabhoomi.”

But interestingly ,neither Mr Bhagwat nor other leaders present showed any belligerence on Ayodhya, or issues like cow slaughter and conversion, and instead called for keeping a cool head when dealing with them.

The saffron parties seemed to have softened their rhetoric in the backdrop of Shia Muslims agreeing to shift their mosque to Lucknow and allow the construction of the Rama Mandir at Ayodhya.

Referring to untouchability, Mr Bhagwat said rather than issuing statements on it, the country needed to put a stop to it and treat all Hindus equally.  Strongly opposing cow slaughter, he said it was necessary to dwell on the economic benefits of the milk the cattle produced.

On conversions, he advised  Hindu activists to convince the neglected sections of society, which were easy prey to those carrying them out, that  society was with them. "We must stop their conversion this way, but we need to do it silently and peacefully," he added.

Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt in his presidential address said he was sure  a temple would be built at Ayodhya and the work would start in a year.

Earlier, Govind Dev Guruji too advised against acting in haste on the issue. "We should think and act. There could be fire in our hearts , but we must  have a cool head," he stressed.

In his address, Sri Paramatmanandaji also called for  careful handling of the Rama Janmabhoomi issue. Later, briefing reporters about the discussions, VHP general secretary, Champat Rai said the saffron outfits would not withdraw their demand for a  temple at Ayodhya. "Our stand has been clear since 1984. We want a temple at Ayodhya- Rama Janmabhoomi  and do not want a mosque in the memory of Babur in any part of our country," he asserted.