New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday told a delegation that plans to protect the makeshift Ram temple in Ayodhya with a bulletproof shield could not be shelved.

Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Shoaib Iqbal, leader of the delegation, said after the meeting that Dr. Singh cited last year's terrorist attack on the sacred compound as the reason behind the new security plan.

"The Prime Minister said he would not take any risk. He said another attack could lead to a very serious situation and therefore it was necessary to build a bullet proof shield around the site," Mr. Iqbal said.

Disappointed with Dr. Singh's refusal to drop the plans for protection of the temple, Mr. Iqbal said he would create political pressure on the Government to withdraw its decision.

"He rejected our request one hundred per cent and now we will mobilise the support of UPA allies as well as the Left to make the Government drop this plan, which we feel will give legitimacy to the existing temple there. We would like the allies to pull down the Government if it does not accept our demand," Mr. Iqbal said.

"Demand inappropriate"

The Bharatiya Janata Party described as "highly inappropriate" the demand for withdrawal of plans to protect the temple.

"There is a Ram temple which has faced an attack before. The Government must ensure its safety. We believe it is the Government's responsibility to ensure all places of worship are safe. Any opposition to such plans is highly inappropriate," BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said.

Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal told presspersons here that the status quo of the structure "is not to be tinkered with ... only security is to be strengthened." — PTI

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