Ayodhya issue: 'I had three meetings with ex-PM Narasimha Rao,' says Singhal - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) International president Ashok Singhal revealed here on Friday that he had face to face meetings with former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao thrice to solve the Ramjanmabhoomi issue. Addressing a press conference here, Singhal said all these meetings were arranged by 'Dhirubhai,' apparently referring to the former chairman of the Reliance Group, Dhirubhai Ambani. However, when asked specifically about this reference, Singhal refrained from answering. Singhal also said there were many Rambhakts inside the Congress Party and claimed, "They extended hearty support to the Ayodhya movement." Commenting about the indictment of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in the Liberhan Commission Report, Singhal said: "Atalji was associated with the movement, but he was not present on December 6, 1992 at Ayodhya." He claimed the Ayodhya movement was a saint's movement and not a political one. "It was a movement initiated and guided by saints. It was never a political one," Singhal said. The Ayodhya issue should be resolved through a cabinet decision on the lines of the Somanath temple issue, he said. "If the then cabinet under the leadership of Nehru can resolve the Somanath problem with a decision, I demand the same should be followed for resolving the Ayodhya issue," Singhal said.