Abject Surrender to VHP -- Puja at Ayodhya on March 15

Date: 
Saturday, March 9, 2002

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) condemns the abject surrender of the Central Government to the pressures of the VHP by agreeing to allow symbolic bhoomi puja at the disputed land at Ayodhya on March 15 and to transfer acquired land for temple construction. This is a clear violation of the Supreme Court verdict to maintain status quo in Ayodhya and the assurance given in the President's address. The announcement of Shri I.D. Swami, Minister of State for Home affairs, that the restriction on the movement of kar sevaks would be eased exposes the role of the Central Government as facilitator of subversion of the rule of law.

The Polit Bureau wishes to warn the Government that the reported move of the government allowing bhoomi puja and transfer of land to the VHP for temple construction will have very serious and adverse repercussions on national unity. The P.B appeals to all secular and democratic forces in the country to demand that the status quo at Ayodhya should be maintained.