Narendra Modi, Uma Bharati, Vasundhara Raje Scindia having done it, it’s now the turn of UP BJP president Vinay Katiyar to set-off on a yatra. Jagran Yatra, as it is called is Katiyar’s third since he assumed command of the state, and is aimed at reviving BJP’s temple movement in the wake of the ensuing elections. It kicks-off on May 24, from the banks of Ganga at Garh Mukteshwar, with an elaborate yagna by sadhus from Ayodhya.‘‘During the month-long yatra, I will tour every district of the state and will hold meetings to spread the message that BJP should get an absolute majority for turning the Ram Temple at the disputed site into a reality,’’ Katiyar told the Indian Express. Centre being partisan to save Babri accused: Cong New Delhi: The Congress today criticised the BJP-led coalition for taking a ‘‘partisan communal position’’ on the disputed site in Ayodhya aimed at ‘‘misleading’’ the Liberhan Commission. Party spokesperson Anand Sharma said that this was being done to provide ‘‘convenient cover up’’ to leaders like L.K. Advani, accused in the Babri demolition case. “The assertion on the existence of a temple at the disputed site being an undisputed fact, is a deliberate and mischievous misrepresentation. The objective clearly being to mislead the Commission and interfere with the established course of inquiry,’’ Sharma said. — ENS With just 10 days to go for the yatra, Katiyar has started his preparations. Yesterday, he visited the twin towns of Faizabad and Ayodhya and met several religious leaders. He has also purchased books worth Rs 6,000 including the four Vedas, the verses of which coupled with his interpretation will form the text of his speeches during the yatra.‘‘I am sunk in a sea of books. I want to enlighten the Hindus as well as the Muslims. There are Muslims who believe more in aggressor Babar than Rahim, the great Muslim poet and believer of Lord Ram. I will appeal to all of them to lend their cooperation in building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, because if they fail to take the initiative now, they might not get another chance,’’ he said.According to the leader, he has also written letters to all MPs and chiefs of all political parties appealing them for help in the construction of the Ram Temple. ‘‘I will appeal to the Hindus to give the BJP the political strength (absolute majority) they had given it in 1991, which later paved way for the temple (mosque demolition),’’ he said, hinting BJP’s plans following the elections.Apart from favourable quotes from the books he has purchased, the state BJP chief will also be telling people about the achievements of the Vajpayee Government and the coalition government in the state. ‘‘I will tell people how the coalition government (BJP-BSP) in the state worked for their development keeping aside differences.’’On the on-going excavation at the disputed site in Ayodhya, Katiyar said: ‘‘I want the excavation to be telecast live on television, so that whole world sees the artifacts being recovered there. These are tell-tale signs of the existence of the temple which was bulldozed to pave way for the Babri Masjid.’’
