BJP to mull over Ayodhya legislation

The Bharatiya Janata Party has agreed to consider the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's demand for a legislation to facilitate the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, according to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Seeking to iron out differences within the Sangh Parivar, RSS leaders on Saturday met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other senior leaders and urged them to address sympathetically the VHP's concerns, RSS joint general secretary Madan Das Devi said in New Delhi.

The BJP will consider the proposal at its national executive meeting in Raipur next week, he said.

The BJP has maintained that a legislation is not feasible as it is outside the National Democratic Alliance's agenda.

However, expressing disapproval of the VHP's demand that Vajpayee quit over his 'failure' to bring in a legislation, Devi said, "Making such demands from such a democratically elected government is incorrect."

Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, RSS chief K S Sudarshan and Devi were among those who attended the meeting, which came a day after an interaction between RSS, VHP and other senior Hindu religious leaders.

Asked whether the issue of Kashi and Mathura were also raised at Saturday's meeting, Devi said, "No."

Press Trust of India