Sangh groups get active on Ram Mandir; VHP calls strategy meeting of sants on Oct 5 in Delhi

The issue of building the Ram temple in Ayodhya is being raised in a big way before the 2019 general elections and the process of polarisation around it has started. A major meeting of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) will be held in Delhi on this issue on October 5 where monks and sages from all over the country will gather and issue a call for building the Ram temple.

Talking about this meet, VHP coordinator Suresh C Singh told National Herald on the phone, that this is a “question of faith and the monks and ascetics are gathering in large numbers. We all have the same concern that now the people of this country should not wait any more for the Ram temple. We have been saying this from the beginning that we respect the court and will continue to do so. The temple will be built in the same place, it is our pledge and for this we have to prepare a blueprint. People are gathering for this purpose on October 5. The country has been waiting for the temple for many years and it’s more than enough now.”

In response to all questions that the matter is sub judice and is still being heard by the Supreme Court, the VHP leader just reiterated that he has complete faith in the court that a way to the construction of Ram Temple will be forged. He did not answer any questions related to the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the contempt of the court's judgment at that time.

But from his attitude, it is easy to sense that a major plan to invoke Hindu sentiments on October 5 and afterwards is already in place. Similar indications have been there in Ayodhya for the last one month now, which make it clear that this time the rightwing organisations are preparing to play up the issue in a big way.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat said in Haridwar, on October 2 that “There are limitations of governments, they have to work in the restrictions, but there is no restriction on monks and sanyasis. They should come forward to uplift the religion, society and the country.” This statement by Bhagwat clearly indicates that they intend to turn the Ram temple into a major political-religious issue before the next hearing on the matter in the Supreme Court. After Mohan Bhagwat’s statement, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy also said on Wednesday, October 3 that nobody can stop the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya because the matter has already been settled.

Swamy said, “I think the Muslim community should force these Waqf board and others to say that now look for the other land and build a masjid somewhere else because you can build a masjid anywhere but this has to go to Ram and same thing with Krishna Mathura and Kashi Vishwanath.”

Now that the Modi government at the centre has failed drastically on the economic front and is facing increasing pressure on the Rafale deal controversy, rising fuel prices, lack of jobs and police action on farmers, the renewed focus on Ram temple by the RSS, VHP and other Sangh affiliates organisations is being seen as a desperate effort to woo Hindu votes. Efforts are also on to use the preparations for the Ardh Kumbh in Allahabad in January 2019 for creating an environment for campaigning for Ram temple. It’s clear that the Sangh clan is all set to launch the Ram Mandir movement soon.

This article was updated at 6.11 pm on October 3, 2018 to update the headline