Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura not negotiable: Togadia Tuesday, January 20 2004 22:14 Hrs (IST) New Delhi:
Asserting that its stand on Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi was not negotiable, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today (Jan 20, 2004) refused to comment on Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's remarks on Ayodhya issue and distanced itself from on-going parleys between Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Jamiat-i-ulema-e-Hind.
It also said the Vajpayee Government's recent peace gestures towards Pakistan amounted to "playing with national security".
"Our stand on Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi is not negotiable," VHP international general secretary Praveen Togadia told reporters in new Delhi when asked whether the Sangh Parivar was ready to go give up demands on Mathura and Kashi if a temple was allowed to be built at Ayodhya.
Asked about VHP's stand on Dalai Lama's comments on Ayodhya issue recently, he said his organisation had not received any proposals and did not want to say anything on the issue.
When referred to last month's talks RSS chief K S Sudarshan and VHP president V H Dalmiya had with Jamiat top brass, Togadia said, "Some people may be talking. We are not talking."
"Some path has to be kept open," he replied when specifically told that Dalmiya had attended that meeting.
On the recent developments on Indo-Pak front, Togadia said, "It amounted to playing with India's national security."
"We are erecting wire fences on the border to prevent infiltration of terrorists and arms smuggling. But now we have opened train and bus services to allow them in properly," he said while pointing out that Army Chief Gen N C Vij had stated that 44 terrorist camps still existed in Pakistan.
PTI
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