While the Ayodhya Jama Masjid trust — which claimed it would start construction of a mosque outside the disputed area in Ayodhya from March 21 —has postponed the exercise till elections, the VHP is gearing up for a ten-day mahayagna in the temple town from the same date to pave the way for the Ram temple at the disputed site.Sadhus from different parts of the country will assemble at Ayodhya from March 21, the beginning of the Hindu calendar year, for the mahayagna that will last till March 30. VHP chief Ashok Singhal is reaching Ayodhya on March 19. ‘‘We are not worried about the issue (of temple construction) because Ram lalla (the idol) is already being worshipped at the sanctum sanctorum of the makeshift temple at the disputed site. What remains to be done is providing a structure and that will be done within the next two years. Sadhus and leaders are assembling here for the mahayagna and we will chalk out our future course of action then,’’ Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, chairman of the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas, told The Indian Express over the phone from Ayodhya.While the mahant claimed that the sadhus have nothing to do with politics, the very timing of the mahayagna — with elections round the corner and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani also reaching the temple town on April 5 — has left little doubt on the ‘‘real intentions’’ behind the exercise.‘‘The sadhus will not be present in Ayodhya to welcome Advani because they all will be busy with the Kumbh at Ujjain, the first bath of which is scheduled on April 6. But we will welcome any speech given by Advani here favouring the construction of the Ram temple though it should not be used for political purposes,’’ the mahant said.The Ayodhya Jama Masjid Trust, the fledgling outfit which came up to find a mutually acceptable solution to the issue and also announced that it would start construction of the mosque outside the disputed area on March 21, has postponed its plan. ‘‘We have decided not to start construction of the mosque from March 21. We will take up the exercise after the elections,’’ said its managing trustee S.A.A. Rizvi.‘‘He (Rizvi) is operating at the behest of Union Home Minister for State Chinmayanand and has no support from leaders of the Muslim community. We want the Babri mosque re-built at the same site where it stood on December 6 ,1992. There can never be a compromise on the issue,’’ Muslim Personal Law Board member Zafaryab Jilani said.
