VHP claims 3 lakh supporters in Ayodhya; Uddhav Thackeray warns BJP on Ram temple delay

The elections are around the corner and Sangh Parivar has nothing to show for these four years, Hence, in an attempt to whip up communal passions in the hope of electoral rewards, the Sangh Parivar has been drumming up support through all channels possible for the Dharam Sabha scheduled to be held on Sunday, November 25.

Right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad and BJP ally Shiv Sena are holding parallel programmes in Ayodhya on Sunday, November 25, pushing for the construction of temple bypassing the legal aspect. Also, the RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat will address VHP's 'hunkar rally' in Nagpur on the Ram Temple issue.

VHP has been claiming at least three lakh people will attend the programme to discuss the way forward for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, where in 1992 the 16th-century Babri Masjid was destroyed by right-wing karsevaks. However, so many karsevaks haven’t descended in Ayodhya yet. According to eyewitness accounts, there aren’t many swayamsevaks of the RSS either in Ayodhya.

Uttar Pradesh police has said that 35 senior police officers, in addition to 160 inspectors and 700 constables, have been deployed in Ayodhya. Forty-two companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary, five companies of the Rapid Action Force and several anti-terrorism squad commandos have also deployed. Drone cameras are being used to assess crowd and 13 parking spots have been designated.

Meanwhile, Union Minister VK Singh said that there was no need to deploy the Army in Uttar Pradesh, He was responding to former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's concerns over the two big Ram temple themed events organised by the Shiv Sena and the right wing group Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Ayodhya.

“I don't think there is any need for the deployment of an Army in Uttar Pradesh as there is enough law and order machinery available there. And I am sure that the BJP government, unlike other parties, will ensure that law and order is maintained," said the Minister of State for External Affairs. He was speaking to news agency ANI.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had asked the Supreme Court to send the Army, if necessary, to keep the situation under control, after seeing VHP's mobilisation.

Mounting pressure on the BJP government at the Centre over the construction of a grand Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh here, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, November 25, said if the Narendra Modi government dithered this time, it will not come to power in 2019.

"Sarkaar bane na bane, mandir zaroor banna chahiye" (Whether the government comes back to power or not, but the grand Ram temple must be constructed," he said.

Addressing the media after a 30-minute darshan of the Ram Lalla, the Shiv sena supremo said no one should play with the sentiments of the Hindus in this matter. "Time when Hindus were beaten up is a thing of the past, Hindus now are powerful and have a voice," said Thackeray.

The Sena chief again repeated his party's commitment to an early construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and said if the central government brought a Bill or an ordinance for the temple construction, his party would extend its absolute support.

With Inputs from Vishwadeepak