VHP at ‘sabha’: Won’t cede an inch

Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service
Lucknow, November 25

Thousands of devotees thronged the temple town today for VHP’s marathon ‘Dharam Sabha’ for discussing construction of a Ram Temple, with a senior religious leader asserting that the dates would be announced early next year.

At Badey Bhaktmaal Ki Bagia, Ramji Das of Nirmohi Akhara said the “date for construction of the temple will be declared in the 2019 Kumbh at Prayagraj”. 

Vishwa Hindu Parishad international vice-president Champat Rai said they did not want a division of the disputed site and would not settle for anything less than the entire land for raising Ram Mandir. In its 2010 verdict, the Allahabad High Court had given two-third of the site to the Hindus and one-third to Muslim petitioners.

He claimed the struggle for Ram Mandir was 500 years old. “Hindus now want the whole land for the mandir. Building a masjid there is unacceptable. Muslims should withdraw their case.” 

He accused the Supreme Court of dragging its feet on the issue. “We have come to remind some people that the issue did not end on December 6, 1992. That is why we have had to organise this  Sabha after 25 years.”

In a startling revelation, Swami Rambhadracharya of the Tulsi Peeth told the gathering that a Union minister had assured him of a “positive development regarding the mandir in January after the model code of conduct is withdrawn”.  

The ‘Dharam Sabha’ began at 11 am amid recitation of mantras till 3 pm.

Among the large number of seers were acting chief of Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas Mahant Nrityagopal Das, Premanand Maharaj and Dashrath Gaddi’s Brajmohan Das. Chants of “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jab kesariya lehrayega, hosh thikane ayega” by Ram bhakts, mainly youths, rent the air. They had arrived from mainly 45 districts of central and eastern UP. Carrying sound systems, they broke into dance. 

Tapasvi Ji Ki Chavni Ashram’s Mahant Paramhans Das and his supporters arrived with bricks on their head. The Mahant was later placed under arrest in his ashram. Last month, he had gone on a fast and was forcibly admitted to a Lucknow hospital. In Lucknow, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia head Shivpal Singh Yadav met Governor Ram Naik, demanding the dismissal of CM Yogi Adityanath for allowing a large gathering in Ayodhya even when Section 144 of CrPC was in force.

Along with supporters, he marched to Raj Bhavan and staged a dharna till the Governor invited a delegation to meet him. Presenting a memo, Shivpal Yadav pointed out that for the past few days a build-up had been allowed in Ayodhya “against the law”.

Anand Kumar, ADG (Law and Order), reiterated that foolproof security arrangements had been made.

Can’t wait more: Bhagwat

"One year ago, I myself had said be patient. Now I say, patience will not work. Now we need to mobilise people. Now we should demand a law." Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Chief