No stones for temple construction in Ayodhya, state govt tells VHP

Ayodhya: UP's commercial tax department has denied permission to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to import stones from Rajasthan and Gujarat for the construction of the proposed Ram temple at the disputed Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya. The state government had come under attack from all non-BJP parties after it had allowed stones to be imported and dumped at Mandir Nirman workshop in Ayodhya in November last year.
Local commercial tax officials confirmed that they have refused to issue form 39 to the VHP for the import of stones.Stones meant for commerical construction invite VAT in UP.But in case of personal use, the tax is waived, for which form 39, issued by the com mercial tax, is attached with the consignment. The VHP so far has been using this form for importing stones for the temple.
This time, however, the commercial tax department has refused to issue this form citing 'orders from higherups'. Commercial tax department's additional commissioner Akhilesh Shukla told TOI that the permission was denied as the VHP's application said that the stones were being imported by the Ram Mandir Trust for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Since there is the Supreme Court's order to maintain a status quo at the disputed site, if we allow stones for the temple's construction there we would also become violators of the apex court's order," he added.
When asked why the department allowed it earlier, Shukla said in November a new officer gave permission."Action has been taken against him," he said, asking "why do they need more stones? The ones they have imported in large volume are lying without use."
Local VHP leader Triloki Nath Pande confirmed their application for permission to import stones has been turned down. He said that consignments of stones are ready in Rajasthan to be delivered. "As soon as we get the permission, we will import them," he added. The temple trust is importing stones since 1991. A battery of stone cutters and artisans was deployed for the carving work. However, with the titles suit pending before the SC, the pace of work slowed and almost stopped after 2007. "It was also because mining was stopped in Rajasthan and we were not getting the desired size of stones," says a VHP worker.
In November 2015, there was hue and cry when a consignment arrived after a gap of nine years. It was seen as VHP's renewed efforts to give momentum to the temple movement despite the Supreme Court's restrain order.
Since the SP government, too, faced criticism for allowing the import of stones last year, it seems to have toughened its stand now. Meanwhile, fearing protest from the pro-temple activists, security has been beefed up at the commercial tax department office in Faizabad.