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Raipur: In an apparent bid to mend fences with an agitated Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to come out with a resolution on Ayodhya at its National Executive meeting in Raipur on July 18, which would reaffirm its commitment to build a Ram temple at the disputed site.

The resolution, being drafted by party general secretaries Pramod Mahajan and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is expected to encompass all aspects of the vexed issue including the VHP's demand for a legislation to facilitate construction of Ram temple, party sources said.

Deeply aware of the party's limitations on the temple issue in a coalition government, the resolution is expected to emphasise on a negotiated settlement on the issue, expedition of the court cases, besides expressing party's helplessness in bringing a Bill due to insufficient numbers in Parliament and the Supreme Court's stay on the issue, they said.

Interestingly, the party is not bringing in any political resolution apart from the one on Ayodhya, which would be the fist since the 1989 Palampur resolution where the party resolved to jump headlong into the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

At a meeting of the Sangh Parivar top brass at Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's residence on July 12, the party had agreed to consider a legislation as demanded by the VHP.

Subsequently party leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, had virtually ruled out the possibility of a legislation due to lack of numbers in Parliament.

While asserting that Ayodhya has been the central point of all BJP manifestoes since Palampur, except the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) agenda, party general secretary Mahajan told reporters that the issue would not have any impact on the coming Assembly elections.

Though the party will not be reviewing its ties with allies, Mahajan would be making a presentation on the party's poll prospects state wise for the Lok Sabha elections due in September 2004.

PTI