Saints set to declare Ram temple construction date

The date for the construction of Ram Temple would be “declared” at the VHP-sponsored ‘dharm sabha’ at Ayodhya on November 25, even as the administration has decided to turn the disputed site into a fortress, alarmed by intelligence inputs that a large crowd was expected to attend the meeting.

Saffron leaders, who are making the rounds of the lanes of Ayodhya and other nearby towns to mobilise crowd for the meeting, have been telling people that the saints would “declare” the date from which the construction of the temple would start.

“The dharm sabha will announce the date. It is going to be a decisive battle,” a senior VHP leader said while addressing a corner meeting in Ayodhya on Monday.

Though BJP ministers and senior leaders sought to distance themselves from the ‘dharm sabha’, saying it was not their event, they made it clear that there was no bar on the ‘Rambhakts’ (disciples of Lord Rama) within the party to attend the meeting.

Ved Prakash Gupta, BJP legislator from Ayodhya, was seen distributing leaflets among people, exhorting them to attend the meeting in large numbers.

Apparently alarmed by intelligence inputs that a large crowd was expected in Ayodhya on Sunday, the administration has decided to fortify security arrangements in and around the disputed site.

“No one will be allowed to march towards the disputed site on that day. All roads leading to the site will be sealed and barricaded,” said a senior police officer.

Sources said that UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued strict directions to the local administration to make sure that status quo at the disputed site was maintained.