04-27-2007, 05:56 PM
From andhracafe.com
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<b>'Rajiv struck deal with RSS on Ayodhya'Â </b>
Updated:Â 04-26-2007Â Â Email this Page
Nagpur, April 25 Late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had struck a 'secret deal' with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1989 for the Hindu organisation's support to the Congress in exchange for creation of Ram temple in Ayodhya, a former Congress MP said Wednesday.
Banwarilal Purohit, former Congress MP, told reporters here that it was during the crucial meeting between the then RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras and the then union minister Bhanu Prakash Singh (an emissary of Rajiv Gandhi) that the former prime minister's proposal of 'shilanyas' (laying of foundation stone) for the temple was discussed and the deal was struck.
Purohit said he was revealing the long-guarded secret that he had kept private so far 'in the national interest' as Rajiv's son Rahul was 'twisting and turning' the historical facts and misleading the people during his ongoing election campaign in Uttar Pradesh.
The former MP was referring to Rahul's recent statement that the Babri mosque would not have fallen (in 1992 when late Narasimha Rao was prime minister) if someone from the Gandhi family had been at the helm of the Indian government.
Purohit, who was the only Congress MP to have participated in the 1992 'kar seva' at Ayodhya during which the Babri mosque was demolished, later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and won the next parliamentary election (in 1996) on its ticket.
Claiming that Rajiv Gandhi wanted the Ram temple to be constructed at the 'birthplace' of the revered Hindu deity after facilitating its shilanyas there, Purohit regretted that the former prime minister later buckled under pressure from some Muslim leaders who warned him of alienation of Muslim voters from the Congress.
Giving a detailed account of the role he played in the process of finding a solution to the vexed Babri mosque issue at the behest of Rajiv Gandhi, <b>Purohit said the former prime minister told him to ask Deoras whether he would assure Sangh's support to the Congress if the government allowed the temple foundation stone to be laid.</b>
'When I told Rajivji that my meeting with Deoras at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur would not remain secret since I belonged to the city, <b>he decided to send Bhanu Prakash Singh to Nagpur and instructed the then home minister Buta Singh to make the necessary arrangements,'</b> Purohit added.
The former MP further said he had arranged the meeting between the RSS chief and Singh at the residence of a senior RSS functionary Babasaheb Talatule.
Purohit, who claimed he was asked to ensure that the RSS chief and Singh came to an agreement on starting the temple construction work, said Deoras promised RSS help to the Congress in the elections if the Rajiv Gandhi government facilitated the laying of foundation stone of the temple.
<b>The next round of talks, scheduled to take place between Deoras and Buta Singh in Delhi, could not materialise owing to the RSS chief's ill health, Purohit said, adding the then RSS secretary general Rajendra Singh (who subsequently succeeded Deoras as the chief) took part in the Delhi meeting with the then home minister.</b> <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Home Politics
<b>'Rajiv struck deal with RSS on Ayodhya'Â </b>
Updated:Â 04-26-2007Â Â Email this Page
Nagpur, April 25 Late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had struck a 'secret deal' with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1989 for the Hindu organisation's support to the Congress in exchange for creation of Ram temple in Ayodhya, a former Congress MP said Wednesday.
Banwarilal Purohit, former Congress MP, told reporters here that it was during the crucial meeting between the then RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras and the then union minister Bhanu Prakash Singh (an emissary of Rajiv Gandhi) that the former prime minister's proposal of 'shilanyas' (laying of foundation stone) for the temple was discussed and the deal was struck.
Purohit said he was revealing the long-guarded secret that he had kept private so far 'in the national interest' as Rajiv's son Rahul was 'twisting and turning' the historical facts and misleading the people during his ongoing election campaign in Uttar Pradesh.
The former MP was referring to Rahul's recent statement that the Babri mosque would not have fallen (in 1992 when late Narasimha Rao was prime minister) if someone from the Gandhi family had been at the helm of the Indian government.
Purohit, who was the only Congress MP to have participated in the 1992 'kar seva' at Ayodhya during which the Babri mosque was demolished, later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and won the next parliamentary election (in 1996) on its ticket.
Claiming that Rajiv Gandhi wanted the Ram temple to be constructed at the 'birthplace' of the revered Hindu deity after facilitating its shilanyas there, Purohit regretted that the former prime minister later buckled under pressure from some Muslim leaders who warned him of alienation of Muslim voters from the Congress.
Giving a detailed account of the role he played in the process of finding a solution to the vexed Babri mosque issue at the behest of Rajiv Gandhi, <b>Purohit said the former prime minister told him to ask Deoras whether he would assure Sangh's support to the Congress if the government allowed the temple foundation stone to be laid.</b>
'When I told Rajivji that my meeting with Deoras at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur would not remain secret since I belonged to the city, <b>he decided to send Bhanu Prakash Singh to Nagpur and instructed the then home minister Buta Singh to make the necessary arrangements,'</b> Purohit added.
The former MP further said he had arranged the meeting between the RSS chief and Singh at the residence of a senior RSS functionary Babasaheb Talatule.
Purohit, who claimed he was asked to ensure that the RSS chief and Singh came to an agreement on starting the temple construction work, said Deoras promised RSS help to the Congress in the elections if the Rajiv Gandhi government facilitated the laying of foundation stone of the temple.
<b>The next round of talks, scheduled to take place between Deoras and Buta Singh in Delhi, could not materialise owing to the RSS chief's ill health, Purohit said, adding the then RSS secretary general Rajendra Singh (who subsequently succeeded Deoras as the chief) took part in the Delhi meeting with the then home minister.</b> <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->