Ayodhya LIVE: The temple town of Ayodhya is witnessing its biggest congregation of Right-wing activists since December 6, 1992 when the Babri Masjid was demolished. Thousands have gathered for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) Dharam Sabha to push for a Ram Temple at the disputed site. The rally is also the setting for a battle of Hindutva perception against the Shiv Sena with Uddhav Thackeray warning that the BJP may not come to power if it goes back on mandir promise.
The temple town has turned into a fortress for the Dharam Sabha, which the saffron outfit claims will be attended by more than 3 lakh Lord Ram ‘devotees’. Praant Sangathan mantra (Awadh) of VHP Bholendra had in a written statement said this was the final Dharam Sabha for the construction of Ram temple. “After this, no more Dharam Sabhas will be held and the construction of the temple will commence,” he said.
Day before the Dharam Sabha, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray dared the Narendra Modi government to declare a date for the construction of the temple, saying it was time for the government to “wake up from a Kumbhakarna-like slumber”.
The Supreme Court on November 12 had declined early hearing of petitions in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case and listed the matter for January 2019. Earlier, a three-judge bench, by a 2:1 majority, refused to refer to a five-judge Constitution Bench the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgment of the Allahabad High Court that a mosque was not integral to Islam. The matter had arisen during the hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute.
A UP Police spokesperson said one additional DGP, one deputy inspector general (DIG), three senior superintendents of police (SSPs), 10 additional SPs, 21 deputy SPs, 160 inspectors, 700 constables, 42 companies of PAC, five companies of RAF, ATS commandos and drones have been deployed in Ayodhya.
When contacted, Ayodhya mayor Rishikesh Upadhyay told PTI that adequate security arrangements were made by the police and district administration in the town, located 120 km from state capital, Lucknow. “As many as 13 parking slots have been provided for the event. No permission was given to the Shiv Sena by the government to hold a rally,” the mayor said.
Despite a slight chill in the air, the temple town seems to be reeling under the political heat generated by the ‘Dharam Sabha’, being held to call for the construction of a grand temple for Lord Ram. A pamphlet recently released by the VHP raises the pitch for its construction. It reads “Saugandh Ram ki khaate hai, hum mandir bhavya banayenge (We pledge in the name of Lord Ram that we will build a grand temple for him)” and urges devotees to be a part of the movement.
Vishva Hindu Parishad was founded on August 29, 1964 on the auspicious day of Shri Krishna Janmasthami. Its objective is to organise, consolidate the Hindu society and serve, protect the Hindu Dharma. VHP media in-charge Ambuj Ojha said, “After staying in a ‘taat’ (tent), Lord Ram is expecting a revival of bravado among his devotees. The moment has come. The temple must be built where Ram Lalla is currently seated. Also, there should not be any mosque in the cultural boundary of Ayodhya.”
On November 18, the VHP had organised a motorcycle rally in different parts of Lucknow in this regard.
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