Defiant Kalyan Visits Ayodhya

Within two days of taking over as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Kalyan Singh yesterday made a defiant statement by travelling to Ayodhya and paying obeisance at the makeshift Ram temple at the disputed site.

BSP leader Mayawati said there was nothing wrong in his visiting Ayodhya, but if the BHP crossed a certain point on the controversial issue, the BSP would take serious note of it.

If the BJP tries to vitiate the atmosphere and hurts the feeling of minorities, our party would take a serious view. Our partys stand on Ayodhya issue is very clear: we will honour the verdict of the court, she said.

Singhs last visit to the temple-town was in 1991. He said none should object to his visit yesterday as it is a matter of personal faith to perform puja and have darshan of Ram. He said he visited Ayodhya in his personal capacity.

Singh was accompanied by BJP ministers in the coalition government.

The visit took place amidst criticism by the United Front and the Congress of Singhs statement that his party is committed to re-build the temple at the disputed site.