VHP recruits 'Bajarngis', administers Ram temple pledge

Hundreds of newly-recruited 'Bajarngis' (disciples of Lord Hanuman), were on Saturday given 'trishul deeksha' (trident consecration) at the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) office in Karsevakpuram in Ayodhya, and administered oath by the saffron leaders to build the Ram temple.

According to VHP sources, the workers, who hailed from different parts of Uttar Pradesh, were given tridents and made to take a pledge that they would safeguard the Hindu religion and culture.

"The new recruits were apprised of the sacrifices made by the karsevaks in Ayodhya in the run up to the demolition of Babri Masjid, they were also told about the hurdles in the way of the Ram temple," a senior VHP leader told DH from Ayodhya.

"The bajarangis were told that there was now no other option than to build the Ram temple through a Parliamentary legislation," he said, adding that these workers also took a pledge to be ready to make any sacrifice for the temple.

Sources said that more such workers would be recruited and administered a similar pledge in the next few days.

VHP plans to recruit 25,000 workers, who would be ready to march to Ayodhya on the direction of the seers for building the Ram temple.

"Twenty-five thousand Bajarang Dal sainiks will be recruited in the Avadh (central UP) region. They will be given trishul deeksha and they will have to take a pledge for the Ram temple, and will be ready to march to Ayodhya on the direction of the seers," senior VHP leader Bholendra said.