Ayodhya: The date for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya would be announced early next year, a religious leader announced at the VHP’s marathon “Virat Dharam Sabha” as thousands of devotees thronged the temple town for the conclave being touted as the largest congregation of ‘Ram bhakts’ since the 1992 ‘kar seva’ during which the 16th century Babri Masjid was razed in the town.
Hindu seers also demanded that the Muslims hand over the land at the disputed site before the BJP-led government brings an ordinance, warning that a failure to do so may force Hindus to include Kashi, Mathura and other disputed structures in their agenda.
Addressing the sabha after the inauguration marked by chanting of mantras at the Badey Bhaktmaal ki Bagia, Ramji Das of Nirmohi Akhara said, “The date for construction of Ram temple will be declared in the 2019 Kumbh which will be held in Prayagraj.”
“It is only a matter of few days, and I request you all to show some patience,” the seer remarked.
The VHP, which resolved at the Sabha to build the Ram temple at any cost, made it clear that it will not accept a division of the disputed 2.77 acre land in Ayodhya. As many as 14 appeals have been filed in the Supreme Court against an Allahabad high court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the land be partitioned equally among three parties — the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
Asserting that no mosque would be allowed in Ayodhya, VHP international vice-president Champat Rai said that the VHP wants the entire land for building Ram temple.
“No mosque with the name of ‘Babri Masjid’ will be allowed anywhere in India,” he said at the five-hour long meeting.
Accusing the Supreme Court of delaying its decision on the temple issue, Mr Rai said that the court is not giving the issue the priority it deserves.
“We have come to remind some people that the Ram temple issue did not end on December 6, 1992. It is very much alive even after 25 years. The BJP may do politics but we are not ready to accept anything less than the temple,” he said.
Swami Parmanand, who presided over the Sabha, said, “Our temples were broken by (Muslim) rulers and a common Muslim is not responsible for it. A common Muslim should not associate himself with those oppressors. We want Muslim organisations to surrender the land for temple to strengthen brotherhood.”
Senior religious leader Ram Bhadracharya claimed he had met a senior minister on Friday with regard to construction of the temple.
“On November 23, I had called a senior Union minister who assured that after the model code of conduct comes to an end on December 11, the Prime Minister is likely to sit with them and take such a decision so that Ram temple could be built,” he told the gathering, without revealing the name of the minister.
On December 11, the model code of conduct in five states will end with the declaration of results for Assembly polls. The Winter Session of Parliament is also scheduled to begin on the same day in New Delhi.
The Sabha began amidst tight security after recitation of “mantras” and was punctuated with slogans like “Jab kesariya lehrayega, hosh thikane ayega”.
The venue wore a festive look with placards, saffron flags and buntings carried by enthusiastic Ram devotees seen all over. Around 50 seers from different ashrams and akhadas taking part in the religious meeting.
Saints from Haridwar, Chhattisgarh, Hrisikesh, Ujjain, Gujarat, Chitraoot, Prayagraj and Lucknow attended the congregation, said Mahant Ramdas of Nirmohi Akhada of Ayodhya.
Slogans of “Har ghar pe bhagwa chhayegaa, ram rajya phir aayegaa” and “Tel lagaao Dabur kaa, naam mittaao Babar kaa” could be heard from various corners of the programme venue and also on the stretch of the road leading to it.
Meanwhile, in Lucknow, the Pragatisheel Samajwadi P (PSP) president Shivpal Singh Yadav met governor Ram Naik and demanded the dismissal of the Yogi Adityanath government for allowing such a large congregation in Ayodhya even when Section 144 had been clamped.
Mr Yadav staged a dharna at the Raj Bhavan till the governor invited him in. Presenting a memo to the governor, he said that for the last few days a build up has been allowed in Ayodhya against the law.
The All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM), an umbrella body of more than a dozen Muslim religious and social organisations, has written to President Ram Nath Kovind, seeking his urgent intervention into the developments in Ayodhya.
The additional director general of police (law and order) Anand Kumar said that over one lakh people had attended the Dharam, Sabha. He said that the government had received a non-specific alert form the Intelligence Bureau two days ago and security was accordingly beefed up.
