Thousands of activists of a radical Hindu group staged a protest in the Indian capital New Delhi to press for the site of a razed mosque to be handed over to them so a temple can be built on it, witnesses said.
Senior leaders of the radical Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP - World Hindu Council), including Ashok Singhal, Mahant Avaidyanath and Ram Chandra Paramahans, joined the protest on Thursday.
They urged the ruling Hindu-nationalist BJP party to introduce legislation to pave the way for a temple on the site in the northern town of Ayodhya.
Hindu zealots tore down the 16th century Babri mosque in 1992, sparking some of the worst Hindu-Muslim riots since India's independence from British rule.
Hindus claim the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Babur after destroying a temple to their god Ram, who they say was born on the site.
Muslims want to rebuild the mosque, while Hindus want to build the temple.
Archeologists are excavating the site to find out if a temple existed there previously, following an order by the courts which are now in charge of resolving the dispute.
"Even if the Ayodhya excavation establishes the existence of a temple, it is not sure that Muslims will give up their claim," said VHP's general secretary Praveen Togadia.
VHP leaders said leaders of the BJP, which is allied to the VHP, should intervene and give the land to Hindus because they had used the temple issue as an electoral plank to gain votes.