News Analysis India

Tag: Ram Janmabhoomi

  • Threat call to blow up Ram Janmabhoomi complex 

    By PTI

    AYODHYA: A phone call from an unidentified man, threatening to blow up the Ram Janmabhoomi complex here, was received by an Ayodhya resident, police said on Thursday.

    The call was received by Manoj, who lives in the Ramkot area of this Uttar Pradesh district.

    He alerted the police about the call received on his mobile phone. According to police, the caller threatened to blow up the temple area at 10 am on Thursday.

    आज दिनांक 02.02.2023 को रामलला सदन के एक शिष्य के मोबाइल पर अज्ञात व्यक्ति द्वारा श्री रामजन्मभूमि को बम से उड़ाने की धमकी देने के सम्बन्ध मे #ayodhyapolice द्वारा की जा रही कार्यवाही के सम्बन्ध मे पुलिस अधीक्षक नगर की बाईट। #UPPolice pic.twitter.com/cp9EcJmMtd
    — AYODHYA POLICE (@ayodhya_police) February 2, 2023
    As soon as the information was received, police issued an alert to all personnel deployed at various locations in the district.

    Station House Officer (SHO) of the Ram Janmabhoomi police station Sanjiv Kumar Singh said they have registered a case and are conducting an enquiry.

    Efforts are on to ascertain the identity of the caller, he added.

    AYODHYA: A phone call from an unidentified man, threatening to blow up the Ram Janmabhoomi complex here, was received by an Ayodhya resident, police said on Thursday.

    The call was received by Manoj, who lives in the Ramkot area of this Uttar Pradesh district.

    He alerted the police about the call received on his mobile phone. According to police, the caller threatened to blow up the temple area at 10 am on Thursday.

    आज दिनांक 02.02.2023 को रामलला सदन के एक शिष्य के मोबाइल पर अज्ञात व्यक्ति द्वारा श्री रामजन्मभूमि को बम से उड़ाने की धमकी देने के सम्बन्ध मे #ayodhyapolice द्वारा की जा रही कार्यवाही के सम्बन्ध मे पुलिस अधीक्षक नगर की बाईट। #UPPolice pic.twitter.com/cp9EcJmMtd
    — AYODHYA POLICE (@ayodhya_police) February 2, 2023
    As soon as the information was received, police issued an alert to all personnel deployed at various locations in the district.

    Station House Officer (SHO) of the Ram Janmabhoomi police station Sanjiv Kumar Singh said they have registered a case and are conducting an enquiry.

    Efforts are on to ascertain the identity of the caller, he added.

  • Ayodhya temple trust ropes in renowned sculptors to make Lord Ram’s idol

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW:  With the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya going on in full swing, Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust has roped in famous sculptors from across the country for making a model of the Ram Lalla idol to be installed in the under-construction temple in Ayodhya.

    The idol will be sculpted in line with depicting the deity in the form of a five-year-old child

    The Trust has asked the sculptors to present their models within the next 15 days and it would choose one to be installed in the Ram temple.

    Prominent among those who have pitched in for the task include Padma Vibhushan sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo and Vasudev Kamath of Odisha, KV Maniya of Karnataka and Shashtrayajya Deulkar of Pune. They all will send models of the statue measuring 8.5×12 inches.

    According to temple trust general secretary Champat Rai, stones with a hue of sky blue and grey combined from Maharashtra, Odisha and Karnataka are under consideration for preparing the idol of Ram Lalla.

    The decision to rope in renowned sculptors was taken by the temple trust after a two-day meeting of the Ram Mandir construction committee, headed by retired IAS officer Nripendra Mishra, that ended late on Thursday evening in Ayodhya.

    Champat Rai claimed that the stones would be finalised only after approving the model of the deity.

    As per the temple trust sources, the height of the statue will be around 8.5 feet to nine feet and it would be installed in the new temple around 35 ft away from the place provided for devotees to take the darshan in such a way that the sun rays could fall on the deity directly. The distance of 35 ft has been decided so as to make the devotees take the darshan of the deity from head to toe.

    Moreover, the new temple will have two idols of Lord Ram—movable and immovable(new idol) ones. The movable idol would be taken out of the temple on particular occasions but the new one would be installed permanently, said the trust sources.

    The Trust has also roped in top institutes of the country having expertise in architecture and building design to model the temple sanctum sanctorum in such a way that the sunlight falls on the forehead of Ram Lalla on every Ram Navami, the day of his birth at 12 noon. The temple trust has also set up a team of experts hailing from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, CSIR-CBRI of Roorkee and renowned temple architects for the purpose.

    The Trust aims at opening the sanctum sanctorum for public darshan on the day of Makarsankranti in 2024

    ALSO READ | Ram temple coming up on ‘land of hatred’: RJD

    LUCKNOW:  With the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya going on in full swing, Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust has roped in famous sculptors from across the country for making a model of the Ram Lalla idol to be installed in the under-construction temple in Ayodhya.

    The idol will be sculpted in line with depicting the deity in the form of a five-year-old child

    The Trust has asked the sculptors to present their models within the next 15 days and it would choose one to be installed in the Ram temple.

    Prominent among those who have pitched in for the task include Padma Vibhushan sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo and Vasudev Kamath of Odisha, KV Maniya of Karnataka and Shashtrayajya Deulkar of Pune. They all will send models of the statue measuring 8.5×12 inches.

    According to temple trust general secretary Champat Rai, stones with a hue of sky blue and grey combined from Maharashtra, Odisha and Karnataka are under consideration for preparing the idol of Ram Lalla.

    The decision to rope in renowned sculptors was taken by the temple trust after a two-day meeting of the Ram Mandir construction committee, headed by retired IAS officer Nripendra Mishra, that ended late on Thursday evening in Ayodhya.

    Champat Rai claimed that the stones would be finalised only after approving the model of the deity.

    As per the temple trust sources, the height of the statue will be around 8.5 feet to nine feet and it would be installed in the new temple around 35 ft away from the place provided for devotees to take the darshan in such a way that the sun rays could fall on the deity directly. The distance of 35 ft has been decided so as to make the devotees take the darshan of the deity from head to toe.

    Moreover, the new temple will have two idols of Lord Ram—movable and immovable(new idol) ones. The movable idol would be taken out of the temple on particular occasions but the new one would be installed permanently, said the trust sources.

    The Trust has also roped in top institutes of the country having expertise in architecture and building design to model the temple sanctum sanctorum in such a way that the sunlight falls on the forehead of Ram Lalla on every Ram Navami, the day of his birth at 12 noon. The temple trust has also set up a team of experts hailing from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, CSIR-CBRI of Roorkee and renowned temple architects for the purpose.

    The Trust aims at opening the sanctum sanctorum for public darshan on the day of Makarsankranti in 2024

    ALSO READ | Ram temple coming up on ‘land of hatred’: RJD

  • UP CM Yogi offers prayers at Ram temple, chairs meeting over development works

    By ANI

    AYODHYA: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday offered prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya.

    Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also chaired a meeting with officials over the development works in Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

    Earlier on November 4, with a steady stream of devotees to Ayodhya amid the ongoing construction of the Ram temple, the Uttar Pradesh government approved three main routes to the temple site which will enable visitors to have ‘darshan’.

    Work on laying two of these routes is already underway, government officials said. One of these three routes, to be named Ram Path, will span 13 kilometres and connect Sahadatganj to Naya Ghat. While the road is to be laid at a cost of Rs 400 crore, the tendering process has been completed. A committee has also conducted a survey of the main route after it was approved by the government.

    The locals on the route, who have homes or run shops or other establishments, would be rehabilitated before work on constructing the main approach road to the Ram temple begins.

    The other route, to be called Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Path, will connect Birla Dharmashala to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple via Sugreev fort. Work on laying this route is on in full swing. While the work was initially estimated to be completed by November, officials now say that work will go on till December.

    “We will have the route ready by December this year,” Navdeep Rinwa, commissioner, of Ayodhya Mandal.

    The third route will connect Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple to Singar Ghat via Hanumangarhi. Work on this route is underway at a fast pace, officials said, adding that most of the land losers on this route have already been awarded compensation.

    “After clearing some other areas, work will start. The route, once ready, will help draw more visitors to the temple. The Ram Janmabhoomi Path Marg will not only save the devotees time but also enable them to have darshan. The ongoing work is sustainable and there will be no need to run repairs at least for some time,” Kamala Prabhat Singh, an Ayodhya resident, said.

    AYODHYA: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday offered prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya.

    Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also chaired a meeting with officials over the development works in Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

    Earlier on November 4, with a steady stream of devotees to Ayodhya amid the ongoing construction of the Ram temple, the Uttar Pradesh government approved three main routes to the temple site which will enable visitors to have ‘darshan’.

    Work on laying two of these routes is already underway, government officials said. One of these three routes, to be named Ram Path, will span 13 kilometres and connect Sahadatganj to Naya Ghat. While the road is to be laid at a cost of Rs 400 crore, the tendering process has been completed. A committee has also conducted a survey of the main route after it was approved by the government.

    The locals on the route, who have homes or run shops or other establishments, would be rehabilitated before work on constructing the main approach road to the Ram temple begins.

    The other route, to be called Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Path, will connect Birla Dharmashala to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple via Sugreev fort. Work on laying this route is on in full swing. While the work was initially estimated to be completed by November, officials now say that work will go on till December.

    “We will have the route ready by December this year,” Navdeep Rinwa, commissioner, of Ayodhya Mandal.

    The third route will connect Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple to Singar Ghat via Hanumangarhi. Work on this route is underway at a fast pace, officials said, adding that most of the land losers on this route have already been awarded compensation.

    “After clearing some other areas, work will start. The route, once ready, will help draw more visitors to the temple. The Ram Janmabhoomi Path Marg will not only save the devotees time but also enable them to have darshan. The ongoing work is sustainable and there will be no need to run repairs at least for some time,” Kamala Prabhat Singh, an Ayodhya resident, said.

  • Ram temple to open to devotees in January 2024: Trust Member

    By PTI

    AYODHYA: The Ram temple here will be open to devotees in January 2024 after the installation of the idols of Ram Lalla, said a member of the trust set up to oversee the construction of the shrine.

    Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Khestra on Tuesday said 50 per cent of the construction work of the temple has been completed and the overall progress is satisfactory.

    “The temple will be opened to devotees in January 2024 after the installation of idols of Ram Lalla in the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine on the festival of Makar Sankranti,” said trust general secretary Champat Rai.

    He said the ground floor of the temple will be ready by December next year and around January 14, 2024, idols of Lord Ram will be installed.

    “An estimated Rs 1,800 crore will be spent on building the Ram temple,” Rai said, adding that space will be made for idols of prominent Hindu seers.A group of journalists were on Tuesday taken to the elevated place from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, had inspected the construction work of the temple.

    The prime minister had performed the “Bhoomi pujan” for the construction of the temple on August 5, 2020. The Supreme Court verdict of November 9, 2019, had paved the way for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

    According to the plan, temples of Valmiki, Kewat, Shabari, Jatayu, Sita, Vighneshwar (Ganesh) and Sheshavatar (Lakshman) will also be constructed within a 70-acre area in the vicinity of the Ram temple.

    A rectangular, two-storeyed ‘Parikrama’ road is also being constructed, enclosing a total of eight acres of land including the area of the temple and its courtyard. In its eastern part, there will be an entrance made of sandstone. White marble from the Makrana hills in Rajasthan will be used inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

    Modi’s visit to Ayodhya on October 23 was the first after he laid the foundation stone two years back. After offering prayers to Ram Lalla at the makeshift temple, the prime minister had reviewed the progress of the construction work.

    The opening of the temple for devotees at the beginning of 2024 is seen as politically important too as the Lok Sabha elections are scheduled for later that year. The BJP has been highlighting the Ayodhya issue for a long and the opening of the temple for the devotees is expected to generate enthusiasm among Hindus.

    AYODHYA: The Ram temple here will be open to devotees in January 2024 after the installation of the idols of Ram Lalla, said a member of the trust set up to oversee the construction of the shrine.

    Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Khestra on Tuesday said 50 per cent of the construction work of the temple has been completed and the overall progress is satisfactory.

    “The temple will be opened to devotees in January 2024 after the installation of idols of Ram Lalla in the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine on the festival of Makar Sankranti,” said trust general secretary Champat Rai.

    He said the ground floor of the temple will be ready by December next year and around January 14, 2024, idols of Lord Ram will be installed.

    “An estimated Rs 1,800 crore will be spent on building the Ram temple,” Rai said, adding that space will be made for idols of prominent Hindu seers.
    A group of journalists were on Tuesday taken to the elevated place from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, had inspected the construction work of the temple.

    The prime minister had performed the “Bhoomi pujan” for the construction of the temple on August 5, 2020. The Supreme Court verdict of November 9, 2019, had paved the way for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

    According to the plan, temples of Valmiki, Kewat, Shabari, Jatayu, Sita, Vighneshwar (Ganesh) and Sheshavatar (Lakshman) will also be constructed within a 70-acre area in the vicinity of the Ram temple.

    A rectangular, two-storeyed ‘Parikrama’ road is also being constructed, enclosing a total of eight acres of land including the area of the temple and its courtyard. In its eastern part, there will be an entrance made of sandstone. White marble from the Makrana hills in Rajasthan will be used inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

    Modi’s visit to Ayodhya on October 23 was the first after he laid the foundation stone two years back. After offering prayers to Ram Lalla at the makeshift temple, the prime minister had reviewed the progress of the construction work.

    The opening of the temple for devotees at the beginning of 2024 is seen as politically important too as the Lok Sabha elections are scheduled for later that year. The BJP has been highlighting the Ayodhya issue for a long and the opening of the temple for the devotees is expected to generate enthusiasm among Hindus.

  • PM Modi offers prayers to Ram Lalla in Ayodhya

    By PTI

    AYODHYA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers to Ram Lalla at Ram Janmbhoomi here. This is his first visit to Ayodhya after a “bhoomi pujan” for the construction of a Ram temple on August 5, 2020.

    Immediately after reaching Ayodhya for the Deepotsav celebrations, the PM went to the makeshift Ram temple and offered prayers to Ram Lalla.

    Ram Lalla Temple is decorated with flowers. (Photo | ANI)He lit an earthen lamp there and performed an “aarti”.

    Temple chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das applied vermillion on his forehead.

    Modi was also briefed by officials on the construction going on for a grand Ram temple at the site.

    Earlier, the PM was welcomed by Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

    He will be attending the Deepotsav celebrations.

    Modi will witness a 3-D holographic projection mapping show at Ram ki Paidi on the banks of the Saryu, along with a grand musical laser show, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

    Around 6.30 pm, the prime minister will witness an “aarti” on the banks of the Saryu, which will be followed by the launch of the Deepotsav celebrations, a statement said.

    Ayodhya Divisional Commissioner Navdeep Rinwa had said over 15 lakh earthen lamps will be lit as part of the Deepotsav celebrations by more than 22,000 volunteers at Ram ki Paidi near the Saryu bank.

    The rest will be placed at important intersections and spots in the town.

    Five animated tableaux and 11 Ramlila tableaux showcasing dance forms from different states will also be presented during the Deepotsav.

    AYODHYA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers to Ram Lalla at Ram Janmbhoomi here. This is his first visit to Ayodhya after a “bhoomi pujan” for the construction of a Ram temple on August 5, 2020.

    Immediately after reaching Ayodhya for the Deepotsav celebrations, the PM went to the makeshift Ram temple and offered prayers to Ram Lalla.

    Ram Lalla Temple is decorated with flowers. (Photo | ANI)He lit an earthen lamp there and performed an “aarti”.

    Temple chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das applied vermillion on his forehead.

    Modi was also briefed by officials on the construction going on for a grand Ram temple at the site.

    Earlier, the PM was welcomed by Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

    He will be attending the Deepotsav celebrations.

    Modi will witness a 3-D holographic projection mapping show at Ram ki Paidi on the banks of the Saryu, along with a grand musical laser show, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

    Around 6.30 pm, the prime minister will witness an “aarti” on the banks of the Saryu, which will be followed by the launch of the Deepotsav celebrations, a statement said.

    Ayodhya Divisional Commissioner Navdeep Rinwa had said over 15 lakh earthen lamps will be lit as part of the Deepotsav celebrations by more than 22,000 volunteers at Ram ki Paidi near the Saryu bank.

    The rest will be placed at important intersections and spots in the town.

    Five animated tableaux and 11 Ramlila tableaux showcasing dance forms from different states will also be presented during the Deepotsav.

  • Values inculcated by Lord Ram inspiration for ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’: PM Modi in Ayodhya

    By PTI

    AYODHYA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Sunday said the values inculcated by Lord Ram through his words, thoughts and rule are the inspiration for “sabka saath, sabka vikas”.

    These are also a basis for “sabka vishwas, sabka prayas”, said the prime minister who arrived here to attend the Deepotsav celebrations.

    Addressing a gathering at the Ram Katha park where a symbolic coronation of Lord Ram and Sita was performed, Modi said he got the opportunity of having the deity’s “darshan” due to his blessings.

    “I am happy that people of Ayodhya, entire UP and world are witnessing this event. As we are celebrating ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava’, the determination like Lord Ram will take the country to new heights,” he said.

    The PM said Lord Ram’s ideals are a beacon of light for people aspiring for a developed India in next 25 years and give the “courage to achieve the most difficult goals”.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers to Ram Lalla at Ram Janmbhoomi here.

    This is his first visit to Ayodhya after a “bhoomi pujan” for the construction of a Ram temple on August 5, 2020.

    Immediately after reaching Ayodhya for the Deepotsav celebrations, the PM went to the makeshift Ram temple and offered prayers to Ram Lalla.

    He lit an earthen lamp there and performed an “aarti”.

    Modi was also briefed by officials on the construction going on for a grand Ram temple at the site.

    Earlier, the PM was welcomed by Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

    AYODHYA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Sunday said the values inculcated by Lord Ram through his words, thoughts and rule are the inspiration for “sabka saath, sabka vikas”.

    These are also a basis for “sabka vishwas, sabka prayas”, said the prime minister who arrived here to attend the Deepotsav celebrations.

    Addressing a gathering at the Ram Katha park where a symbolic coronation of Lord Ram and Sita was performed, Modi said he got the opportunity of having the deity’s “darshan” due to his blessings.

    “I am happy that people of Ayodhya, entire UP and world are witnessing this event. As we are celebrating ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava’, the determination like Lord Ram will take the country to new heights,” he said.

    The PM said Lord Ram’s ideals are a beacon of light for people aspiring for a developed India in next 25 years and give the “courage to achieve the most difficult goals”.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers to Ram Lalla at Ram Janmbhoomi here.

    This is his first visit to Ayodhya after a “bhoomi pujan” for the construction of a Ram temple on August 5, 2020.

    Immediately after reaching Ayodhya for the Deepotsav celebrations, the PM went to the makeshift Ram temple and offered prayers to Ram Lalla.

    He lit an earthen lamp there and performed an “aarti”.

    Modi was also briefed by officials on the construction going on for a grand Ram temple at the site.

    Earlier, the PM was welcomed by Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

  • Aditya Thackeray offers prayers in Ayodhya, resolves to serve people better with blessings of Lord Ram

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW:  Maharashtra cabinet minister and son of CM Uddhav Thackrey, Aditya Thackeray, who reached temple town of Ayodhya and had darshan of Ram Lalla on Wednesday, resolved to serve people better with his blessings. He along with thousands of Shiv Sainiks was on a day-long visit to Ayodhya and offered prayers at the Ram Temple on Janmbhoomi premises.

    On his first visit to the temple town after becoming the minister in Maha Agadi government, Aditya visited Janambhoomi premises, Hanuman Garhi and also participated in Saryu ‘aarti’ at the banks of the holy river in the evening. The Shiv Sena leader also met his party functionaries and interacted with the media.

    While interacting with media persons after taking darshan of Ram Lalla, Thackeray expressed his gratitude to the people of Ayodhya for giving him a rousing welcome and promised to visit the temple town again. He said that he was visiting Ayodhya as a Ram devotee as Lord Ram and Goddess Sita were there in his heart.

    “We all are the descendants of Lord Ram and we are related to the people of Ayodhya. We come here to seek the blessing of Lord Ram so that we can serve the people. No politics is involved in it as it is a matter of faith for us and for the whole country,” he said.

    When asked about the controversy over the Gyanvapi mosque and the ongoing litigation, Aditya Thackeray refused to get dragged into it saying since he was in Ayodhya so he would talk only about Ayodhya.

    On being asked about the Enforcement Directorate (ED) grilling Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, Thackeray claimed that central agencies had turned more into advertising literature of the BJP.

    Thackeray also claimed that his father and Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray would soon speak to his UP counterpart Yogi Adityanath to ask for some space where a Maharashtra Sadan could be built in Ayodhya to facilitate the stay of Maharashtra devotees in the temple town.

    Earlier, on his arrival in Lucknow on Wednesday morning, Aditya Thackeray steared clear of politics at the airport saying:  “We have been coming to Ayodhya and Lord Ram is in our hearts. Even in 2018, when I came for the first time, we had said ‘Pehle Mandir Fir Sarkar’ (first the temple then the government).

    That created an atmosphere and the Supreme Court gave its decision in favour of temple in 2019. Now after the order of the court, the construction of Ram Temple has finally started. I am here to pray and seek blessings of Ram Lalla to serve people better.”

    On the question of protest by a group of seers in Ayodhya against his visit, Thackeray said, “I won’t get into any allegation or counter allegation. This is a holy place and politics should be kept away from it. This is the land of Ram Rajya and the faith of crores of Indians is linked to Ayodhya. We are ardent followers of Lord Ram and today I am here only for darshan. We pray that we perform only good deeds.”

    It may be mentioned that the priest of Hanuman Garhi Mahant Raju Das and some other seers of the temple town had opposed Aditya Thackeray’s visit accusing the Maharashtra government of inaction in case of lynching of two seers in Palghar in 2020. 

    The seers of Ayodhya also accused Thackerays of “shunning Hindutva and belying the ideals of Shiv Sena founder Bala Saheb Thackeray for the greed of power.” 

    Over 2,000 Shiv Sainiks, led by senior party leaders Sanjay Raut and Eknath Shinde, had reached the temple town by two trains on Tuesday to welcome Aditya Thackeray.

    The Ayodhya district administration had made all preparations beforehand for Thackeray’s visit. Around 1,051 lamps were be lit for Saryu aarti. He performed Abhishek of River Saryu with 1.5 tonnes of milk.

  • Country will be ruined if movement begins to save Gyanvapi mosque, Shahi Idgah: Babri case plaintiff

    By PTI

    AYODHYA: Main plaintiff in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case Haji Mahboob has claimed that the country will be ruined if Muslims begin a movement to save the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Idgah in Mathura.

    He alleged that after the Babri mosque, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is now conspiring to take away the Gyanvapi mosque and the Shahi Idgah.

    “They should forget about taking away the two mosques forcibly as there will be a big movement to save the Gyanvapi mosque and the Idgah in Mathura, and Muslims will not back down this time,” Mahboob said.

    “Gyanvapi Masjid will remain where it is. A propaganda is being created that a Shivling has been found. It is indeed a fountain in the mosque’s wazookhana,” he said.

    Talking about the Babri mosque verdict, Mahboob said, “The Supreme Court in its Ayodhya verdict, even after accepting every thing in favour of Babri Masjid, awarded the decree in favour of Ram Mandir. We remained silent and allowed the Ayodhya issue to get resolved,” he added.

    While a Varanasi court is hearing a petition of a group of women seeking the right to worship daily the Hindu idols on the outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque, a Mathura district court on Thursday said a plea seeking to remove the Shahi Idgah Masjid from the complex it shares with the Katra Keshav Dev Temple is admissible.

  • Uttar Pradesh elections 2022: No cakewalk for BJP in temple town of Ayodhya

    Express News Service

    AYODHYA: In the first electoral battle after Supreme Court order settling the vexed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue, the temple town of Ayodhya seems to be evenly poised for a tough battle of ballots ahead. It will vote in phase-V on Sunday.

    The temple issue, which has been one of major poll planks of the saffron brigade for  decades, is not so any more in Ayodhya as the temple is now coming up following the court order. However, people attribute it to the BJP saying the party never left the issue.

    “I know the court order has paved way for temple construction but BJP shares our sentiments and Modiji laid the temple’s foundation. I don’t think any other PM would have done that personally,” says Mahesh Prasad Gupta, 52, a businessman.

    Iqbal Ansari, one of the litigants in the mandir-masjid dispute, feels the BJP should come again. “Rule of law is prevailing in Ayodhya. We are living amicably,” he says. Ayodhya Assembly segment is considered a BJP stronghold for it remained with the party since 1991, till the SP wrested it in the 2012 election.

    While the BJP has repeated its sitting MLA Ved Prakash Gupta, SP has given ticket to Brahmin face Tej Narain Pandey alias Pawan Pandey who had defeated BJP’s Lallu Singh in 2012. Pandey was defeated by Gupta in 2017. Though Gupta is facing some anti-incumbency, he seems to have an edge as people are set to vote in the names of Modi and Yogi.

    ALSO READ| BJP internal survey says tough fight in Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls

    With no palpable anti-incumbency in the constituency, Samajwadi Party is banking upon the caste configuration of Ayodhya. SP’s core vote base here comprising Muslims and Yadavs together make a respectable 92,000 voters with Yadavs being 37,000 and Muslims 55,000.

    The party has strategically fielded a Brahmin eyeing some support from the community. “We are confident of support of all castes and win the seat,” says Vishnu Singh, an SP member.

    The development work undertaken by the incumbent government is the main plank of the BJP. “Whatever the BJP government did so far for Ayodhya, no government has ever done and no one will ever do,” says Dinesh Kumar Singh, a private school teacher. 

    Siddharth Rawat, dealing in edible oil, is not ready to acknowledge the development of Ayodhya. “Had BJP government done so much, Yogi would not have gone to Gorakhpur to contest election. He didn’t have the confidence of winning from Ayodhya,” reasons out Rawat.

    The issue of stray cattle is also being raised in debates. “Only this issue needs to be resolved as it is hitting the farmers, otherwise the government has done all-round development of Ayodhya,” says Abhishek Srivatava. Ram Autar Tiwari, a farmer, feels free ration is useless and farmers are helpless due to stray animals.

    Meanwhile, seers of Ayodhya stand in BJP’s support. “The construction of temple has forced politicians like BSP leader SC Mishra, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal to rush here only to draw political gains,” says Mahant Raju Das, priest, Hanuman Garhi temple.

    If Abdul Gaffar feels SP would win majority of seats in and around Ayodhya, Razia, coming out of a PDS shop, acknowledges facilities given by the BJP government.

    Kalpana Mishra, a housewife and mother of two girls, feels safety of women is not at stake anymore. Suraiyya of Sunni Mohal locality begs to differ saying that law and order was equally good in SP regime.

    However, the pain of having sacrificed Babri Masjid still lingers on. “It will always be there till we are alive,” says Haji Yusuf Qureshi.

  • Mahant Nritya Gopal Das’ condition stable: Hospital

    Mahant, 84, was shifted from Ayodhya to Lucknow #39;s Medanta Hospital on Sunday amid complaints of low oxygen levels and breathlessness.