No question of law for temple-building: Advani

The radical Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council or VHP) allied to India's ruling Hindu nationalist BJP party has threatened nationwide protests if the government does not introduce a bill in the upcoming session of parliament.

"Why Ayodhya? Any bill cannot be passed without the support of the opposition Congress Party in the Rajya Sabha (upper house) and we should accept this harsh reality. In introducing bills we also need the support of all our allies," Advani told journalists from the "Tarun Bharat" newspaper late Sunday.

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"But the same cannot be said here in the Ayodhya case. Our associates should understand that to run the government a certain amount of pragmatism is necessary. Why is the VHP criticising us?

"We are not for any kind of narrow appeal, neither are we abandoning our ideology."

The mosque in Ayodhya was demolished on December 6, 1992, by thousands of Hindu zealots who believed it had been built on the site of a destroyed Hindu temple marking the birthplace of the warrior god Ram.

The demolition led to nationwide riots between Hindus and Muslims, which left at least 2,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands homeless.

A Hindu revivalist campaign began in the mid-1980s to have a temple built at the site, while some Muslims want the mosque rebuilt.