The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), since the demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992, has been claiming that ‘liberation’ of Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura and the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi is next on its agenda.
However, the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which was passed by the then Narsimha Rao government, prohibits conversion of places of worship — like churches, mosques and temples — into places of worship of a different religion.
Section 4 of the Act preserves the “religious character” of a place of worship, as it existed on August 15, 1947. It also says that any court proceeding regarding any such conversion would cease after the Act came into force.
However, Section 5 of the Act specifically exempted the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, and any court proceedings concerning it.
It goes on to provide for three-year imprisonment and a fine for conversion of places of worship.
The Act was passed amid severe opposition from several BJP leaders.
“These are minor hurdles and we will cross the bridges when we come to them. Our resolve to liberate Krishna Janmabhoomi is firm,” the Acharya said.
-With Inputs From IANS
