"I Told Advani To Drive Some Sense Into Atalji"

Why did you change your stance?
I was advised by members of the Nyas not to do anything that would create problems. Also the local police, the district magistrate and ias officials convinced me not to do anything drastic.

Is it true you refused to take calls from the prime minister?
I had nothing to say to him.

What about L.K. Advani and former PM Chandra Shekhar?
Chandra Shekhar requested me not to take any drastic step. I assured him I'd do my puja but won't do anything wrong. I told him to tell the prime minister he need not be concerned about me. I have not many years to live. As for Advani, he made a similar request. I told him to drive some sense into Atalji.

The BJP government rode to power on the Ram mandir plank. Do you feel betrayed now?
I've seen both the British and the regime under Nehru, but no one turned out to be a dictator like Atal Behari Vajpayee. Look at the way he stopped the devotees from participating in the peaceful ceremony we began last month. Can he ever stop the Muslims from going to Mecca? Vajpayee will have to pay the price for hurting Hindu sentiments. He used to say: "Sabko dekha baar-baar, mujhko dekho ek baar (You have seen others several times now try me out once)." We gave him a chance and he has shown his true colours.

Normal life in Ayodhya has come to a standstill. Are you going to make any effort or ask the government to bring normalcy back?
Isn't it crazy? This government has never taken precautions against terrorism the way they are guarding a "temple town". It is terrible that they have failed to handle the bigger issues and are using the might of the state in Ayodhya instead.