Uttar Pradesh:- Even as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) attracted strong criticism from political fronts for its Chaurasi Kos Yatra, several key seers in Ayodhya also lashed out at it for using the Ram Mandir issue for political gains. Mahant Gyandas, head of the committee that organises the parikrama ach year, attacked the VHP for going against tradition and playing politics. “The yatra has always been held from Chaitra Purnima to Baisakh Navami, according to rituals. I have been participating since I was 10. It has already been performed by the Sadhus in the correct time and the original parikrama is done.”
Flayed for terming the yatra as a parikrama despite it already being held, VHP spokesperson Sharad Sharma clarified that it was not a parikrama but a padyatra and that seers had chosen to term it as parikrama as the routes were same. “It is a jan jagran padyatra [march], where only 200-250 seers will participate. No VHP activists or politicians have been invited,” he said, adding that no politician would be allowed to address from the dias.
However, Mahant Gyandas criticised the VHP, saying: “Now at the last moment they are claiming that the media misquoted it as parikrama? They themselves sent pamphlets calling it a parikrama. I attended the meeting, which included Ashok Singhal.”
The mahant also questioned the route selected by the VHP for its yatra as it included some “communally volatile” places and Muslim populated areas.
“It’s an attempt to polarise votes and disrupt communal harmony,” said Mahant Jugal Kishore Sharan Shastri, the chief priest of Saryu Kunj temple, close to the disputed temple site and also a former VHP secretary. “The VHP is out to defame Hindus and their interests. But people of Ayodhya have understood their schemes and are not bothered.”
Claiming that in the last 20 years, the VHP had lost support in Ayodhya, he said only those with vested interests still participated in its programmes. “We must give credit to the public of Ayodhya for not letting the VHP spoil the communal harmony, which the peace-loving locals consider dear.”
Ram Janmabhoomi head priest Mahant Satyendra Das also said that the purpose of the yatra was to polarise votes for electoral gains. “It doesn’t matter if the yatra takes place or not, it is a win-win situation for the parties involved.”
The purpose to politicise it was served, he said, adding that once an issue was politicised like this, it was bound to be milked for gains.
The saints were being used for “vested interests,” the seer said, adding that the order of the Supreme Court on the dispute will be followed and respected.
The priests also praised the administration for not let the yatra kick start, as they felt it could have led to communal tension.
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