Ayodhya seers seek divine intervention for Ram temple

Seers in the temple town of Ayodhya will offer prayers and seek divine intervention for early construction of a Ram temple on Thursday, the 26th anniversary of Babri mosque demolition.

The mosque was demolished on December 6, 1992 by 'karsevaks' who had converged as part of a movement by the BJP and Hindu outfits for construction of a temple dedicated to Lord Ram at the disputed site.

Mahant Ramdas of Nirmohi Akhara said that it will mark the day as 'Shaurya Diwas' (day of bravery), which has been a tradition for the last 25 years.

"We are celebrating 'Shaurya Diwas' and then there will be a grand 'aarti' at Naka Hanumangarhi. We will seek divine intervention from Lord Ram and urge him to help us build a grand temple for him," he said.

"Now we want that the Ram temple should be built at the earliest," he added.

Meanwhile, Iqbal Ansari, a Muslim litigant in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit, said the community will observe 'Yaum E Gham' (day of sorrow) on Thursday. There will be no protests or roadshows.

"How long do we have to observe 'Yaum E Gham'? Now we want that the court should decide (the case) and we will abide by its order," he said.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal have announced that they will mark the day as 'Shaurya Diwas' and 'Vijay Diwas' (day of victory) and have asked the people to light earthen lamps as on Diwali.

Muslim outfits have said they will observe 'Yaum E Gham' and 'Yaum E Syah' (black day).

Over 2,500 police personnel, besides Rapid Action Force and paramilitary CRPF, have been deployed as part of multi-layered security in Ayodhya including in and around the disputed site and several parts of Hanumangarhi area of the city, officials said.

"We have heavy security deployment in the twin towns of Faizabad-Ayodhya. The civil police along with CRPF and RAF have been deployed on roads and sensitive localities," Superintendent of Police, Faizabad (city) Anil Singh said Wednesday

"Checking of vehicles, hotels and dharmshalas (rest houses) in Ayodhya is being conducted. We have made all necessary security arrangements and have allowed only those programmes which are organised by both the communities every year," he said.

The Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit is pending in the Supreme Court, which will decide the schedule of hearing in January.

As many as 14 appeals have been filed in the apex court against a high court judgement, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77-acre land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

After the Supreme Court refused an early hearing, Hindu outfits have demanded that the government bring in an ordinance to facilitate construction of Ram temple at the site.