From: dave@ttd.teradyne.com
Subject: Ayodhia: VHP of America Press Release
Organization: Teradyne Inc., Telecommunications Division
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 92 21:21:21 GMT

Below is the text of a press release issued by the VHP of America.


PRESS RELEASE

Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America notes the developments in Ayodhya
as results precipitated by the inactive and indecisive Central
Government of Mr. Rao. The Parishad leadership, the Hindu religious
leadership and nearly a billion Hindu worldwide were getting
frustrated by the narrow political ambitions of the Central Ruling
party. We hope the events in Ayodhya will give a direction to the
politicians of Bharat (India) and enable them to recognize the
changing mood of the Hindu population of Bharat.

The Parishad has always maintained that the Law and Order situation
of the country and the harmony among the people of Hindu, Muslim
and all other religious faiths is very vital for national interests
and hence followed a path of negotiations, providing evidences of
existence of Sri Ram's Temple at the Ram Janma Bhoomi both to the
Government and the Muslim leadership of Bharat. It is unfortunate
that the superstructure constructed by Barbur, the invader of
Bharat, has been called a mosque by the Islamic leaders and used as
a wedge to divide the communities. The Muslim religious and
political leaders in Bharat have failed to show a generous gesture
of handing over the so called mosque to Hindus and to initiate a
process of healing of psychological scars made by the invaders of
Bharat. All the rational efforts, including the offer to relocate
the structure to another place where rejected, leaving no room for
the Hindu masses but to react. 

The Parishad appeals to the Western Media to refrain from
propagating distorted facts in news reports describing the
structure as a religious mosque. The media should also mention
that, in Bharat, over 3,000 temples have been destroyed by the
invaders and Muslim mosques have been built in their place. Also,
over 60,000 Hindu temples have been destroyed by the people of
Islamic faith. We learn that as a backlash to the events in
Ayodhya, Hindu temples are being destroyed in Pakistan and
Bangladesh. The Parishad condemns these acts of religious
intolerance by the Muslim majority on the Hindu minorities in those
countries. Even as the Hindu temples are being destroyed in Islamic
countries, the Muslims are demanding special favors as religious
minority in Bharat. The Parishad urges all governments to protect
the life and property of its Hindu citizens which may be threatened
by criminal elements. 

The Parishad further appeals to the ethnic media to present all the
facts pertaining to the Ayodhya dispute and be fair to all its
readers. In the spirit of professional journalism, the Hindu
perspective on the issue should be given fair and equal treatment. 

We appeal to both the Hindu and Muslim population in Bharat to show
restraint in their anger and to try to work out a peaceful solution
now. Sri Ram Janma Boomi Temple is a matter of religious faith of
nearly a billion Hindus in Bharat and elsewhere. We appeal to the
people of the Islamic faith to appreciate the faith of Hindus and
to unanimously support the reconstruction of the temple. If the
Muslim community falls prey to the selfish motives of some
political leaders who appear to promote the idea of constructing a
bigger mosque at this site, they will be inviting a long drawn out
struggle and will be responsible for any chaos and loss of lives
and properties resulting from their actions.

We congratulate the National BJP leadership for appealing to the
masses to maintain law and order and Mr. Kalyan Singh for his
restraint in using police force in contrast to the earlier UP
government which massacred hundreds of devotees of Sri Ram. We
anticipate that the VHP leadership and the Hindu religious leaders
in Bharat will take every step to identify the forces that led to
the demolition of the structure to avoid such unplanned incidents
in the future. 

Finally we appeal to all the people of Bharat to exercise restraint
and to promote harmonious and cordial relationship in dealing with
one another.