Ayodhya Ram Mandir row: Bring ordinance for temple if this case not on SC's priority list, Mohan Bhagwat tells Centre

Ayodhya Ram Temple row LIVE UPDATES:Amidst growing demand for construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya without further delay, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday organised 'Dharma Sabha', touted as the largest congregation of 'Ram bhakts' in Ayodhya since the 1992 'kar seva'. The saffron outfit said they will not cede an inch of the disputed land for anything but a Ram temple. Jagadguru Ramanandacharya has claimed that the Centre will make a major announcement after December 11 on this issue. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who participated in a VHP event in Nagpur, asked the Centre to bring an ordinance, if the Ayodhya case is not on Supreme Court's priority list.

ABP News Bureau Last Updated: 25 Nov 2018 10:26 PM

Background

Ayodhya Ram Temple row LIVE UPDATES: With the aim of grabbing a centre-stage in the demand for constructing the Ram Temple ahead of the elections, the holy city of Ayodhya...More

Ayodhya Ram Temple row LIVE UPDATES: With the aim of grabbing a centre-stage in the demand for constructing the Ram Temple ahead of the elections, the holy city of Ayodhya is witnessing various rallies by different organizations including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena today. Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray accompanied by his wife Rashmi and son Aditya, visited to the city on Sunday. Accompanied by local party leaders, saints and sadhus, Thackeray went for a darshan of Ram Lalla and then interacted with the media later. Meanwhile, the VHP is holding what it is touting as the largest congregation of 'Ram bhakts' in Ayodhya today. Around 2 lakh people are expected to participate in the 'Dharam Sabha'' organised by VHP today. The local administration has beefed up security across Ayodhya and in peripheral areas ahead of various rallies planned today by different organizations.

25/11/2018 20:02:18

25/11/2018 19:10:42

The congregation of right-wing activists in Ayodhya has triggered the painful memories of the 1992 tragedy among many residents, with a few Muslim families temporarily leaving the town fearing for their safety. Some Muslim families had left the pilgrim town for good after the large-scale violence that had erupted here post the demolition of the 16th-century Babri Mosque 26 years ago on December 6, and now many others have temporarily left their homes, say local residents.

25/11/2018 19:08:39

The All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind, seeking his urgent intervention into the developments in Ayodhya, where the VHP has organised a public meeting to press for construction of a Ram temple. An umbrella body of more than a dozen Muslim religious and social organisations, the AIMMM said in its letter that the presence of "unruly mobs" in Ayodhya is a clear pointer to the way things are moving in an unchecked manner in Uttar Pradesh.

25/11/2018 18:21:20

25/11/2018 18:00:13

Ram came here first. All of us came later. There was no Akhada or Waqf Board. This land was captured by shedding blood. When Babar butchered people he did not differentiate between Hindus and Muslims. Lord Ram belonged to India, not Babar.

25/11/2018 17:54:54

A gand Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya. If the case id not court's priority then the Centre should come up with legislation. With the construction of a temple in Ayodhya, all the disputes will end: Mohan Bhagwat

25/11/2018 17:49:37

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addresses VHP's Hunkar sabha, calls for construction of a grand Ram temple. "If the Ayodhya case is not SC's priority then the government should think what to do, how to bring an ordinance and construct Ram temple," he says.

25/11/2018 18:16:00

"It is not the matter of giving a mosque but its a matter of principle that how many mosques will we have to sacrifice gradually. If we talk to someone, it will withdraw and another one will come. Sri Sri Ravishankar had offered that we should construct a big mosque outside Ayodhya. But later he cornered himself. Just imagine, what had happened, we entered into an agreement with him," AIMPLB General Secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani said.

25/11/2018 18:15:44

Terming VHP's "Dharm Sabha" and visit of Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackerey to Ayodhya an open "challenge" to Supreme Court, All India Muslim Personal law Board (AIMPLB) said a situation is being created against the Muslims.

25/11/2018 14:35:31

25/11/2018 14:33:04

A UP Police spokesperson said one additional DGP, one deputy inspector general (DIG), three senior superintendents of police (SSPs), 10 additional SPs, 21 deputy SPs, 160 inspectors, 700 constables, 42 companies of PAC, five companies of RAF, ATS commandos and drones have been deployed here. PTI reported that Ayodhya mayor Rishikesh Upadhyay has assured that adequate security arrangements were made by the police and district administration in the town, located 120 km from state capital, Lucknow.

25/11/2018 14:32:54

The state government has entrusted the responsibility of the town to the officials who are well versed with not just the geographical details but also the mood of the temple town. Fool proof security arrangements are in force with the town being virtually converted into a fortress and multiple layers of security and deployment of drones keeping an eye on possible mischief- mongers.

25/11/2018 14:27:54

Flower petals were being showered on the Ram devotees moving towards the sabha venue. If the devotees are shouting slogans like "har ghar bhagwa chaayega, Ram rajya phir ayaegaa" or "tel lagao Dabur kaa, naam mitao Babar ka", the excited youngsters in the crowd cannot resist the desire for clicking selfies to capture the excitement and enthusiasm in the air, much to the surprise of elders in the crowd.

25/11/2018 14:26:34

The mega event has triggered some apprehension over the safety of the town's Muslim community. As per the report by PTI, an uneasy calm prevailed in Muslim-dominated areas like Dharam Kanta. Amidst the surcharged atmosphere , the biggest challenge is being faced by the agencies enforcing law and order who have been on the toes all through, maintaining round the clock vigil.

25/11/2018 14:14:14

ADG(law&order) on input by IB of an attack in Ayodhya

25/11/2018 14:09:17

Visuals from Ayodhya

25/11/2018 14:05:42

The VHP has claimed that three lakh people, including seers, will attend its 'Dharma Sabha' to be held at Bade Bhakt Mal Ki Baghia, not far from the controversial Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas-run workshop, where work for building a temple has been underway since 1990.

25/11/2018 14:05:16

Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad's 'Dharma Sabha' is being touted as the largest congregation of 'Ram bhakts' in Ayodhya since the 1992 'kar seva', with the Hindu outfit claiming a large number of people will attend it. The congregation is happening less than two weeks ahead of the 26th anniversary of the demolition of the 16th century Babri Mosque, that had triggered unrest in this pilgirm town and riots in other parts of India. The spectre of 1992 still haunts many people of both the communities who had directly or indirectly suffered in the violence that had erupted after the Mughal-era mosque was razed by a frenzied army of 'kar sewaks' (right-wing activists) on the fateful day of December 6.

25/11/2018 13:59:06

On the security front, ADG (law and order) Anand Kumar said:

25/11/2018 13:57:51

ADG (law and order) Anand Kumar was quoted as saying, "Ayodhya has been divided into zones. Security scheme has been implemented. Red zone and yellow zone are two main security zones. State govt, state police and administration are committed to uphold the directions by the Supreme Court and High Court."

25/11/2018 13:55:32

While bhajans of Lord Ram are being played at different places all along the route, the involvement of some Muslims led by member of Ayodhya Zila Panchayat, Babloo Khan who has been linked to the movement since the past three years, emphasises the composite culture of the town. Khan is of the view that Ayodhya's Muslim want temple.

25/11/2018 13:44:29

The lanes and by lanes of Ayodhya have come alive to the loud chants of "Jai Shree Ram" this bright Sunday morning, with devotees from all walks of life decending here to take part in VHP's "dharam sabha" to discuss the way forward for the construction of the temple. The surging crowds from not just neighbouring cities but also from far off places, clad in saffron robes and "safas", were seen moving in groups to Badey Bhaktmaal ki Bagia , the venue of the dharam sabha.

25/11/2018 13:20:23

25/11/2018 13:09:12

Amid the rage over the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday announced that it will install a 221-metre bronze statue of Lord Ram in the state. If built, the statue will be the tallest statue in the world.

25/11/2018 13:08:39

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat will address VHP's 'dharma sabha' in Nagpur over the matter of #RamTemple later today.

25/11/2018 12:36:48

Meanwhile Ayodhya has turned into a virtual fortress with multiple layers of security and deployment of drones as people began arriving here for Sunday's `Dharam Sabha', being organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to push for the construction of the Ram temple. The VHP has claimed three lakh people, including seers, will attend its public meeting.

25/11/2018 12:29:02

Congress leader in Lok Sabha M Kharge on Uddhav Thackeray said:

25/11/2018 12:26:43

Reacting to Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's comment on Ram Mandir, BJP MLA Surendra Singh questioned, "How can Shiv Sena hijack the Ram Mandir issue? The people who thrash north Indians and drive them out, who don’t even have the mentality to serve humanity, how will they serve lord Ram?"

25/11/2018 11:30:05

Further lashing out at the ruling party, Shiv Sena chief said that if the current government could not construct Ram Mandir, then it may not stay. "Do whatever you can. Things like Triple Takaq and demonetisation were also done by this government, they did not go to court with it. If this government doesn't construct Ram Mandir, then this government may not stay. But the Ram Mandir will still be constructed," Thackeray said.

25/11/2018 11:28:15

Uddhav Thackeray said that when he visited the Ram Lalla temple in the morning, he was saddened to see massive security arrangements there. He also ruled out any hidden agenda behind his visit. He said it is wrong to connect his visit to 2019 general elections.

25/11/2018 11:26:38

Thackeray's attack on BJP:

25/11/2018 11:25:44

Uddhav Thackeray pressed an attack on BJP and said that the matter is pending before the court and it should not be used during campaigning for elections. He asked the BJP to tell people its Ram Mandir promise is just another jumla. “They are playing with the sentiments of Hindus.”

25/11/2018 11:17:58

Uddhav Thackeray while addressing the media on Sunday said:

25/11/2018 11:17:13

According to multiple media reports, the party is believed to have sent around 3,000 supporters by two trains from Maharashtra.

25/11/2018 11:17:00

Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray told reporters from Ayodhya today that his visit to the city is successful. He thanked his supporters and state government for their support. He said that the party wants early construction of the temple at the same piece of land where Babdi Masjid once stood.

25/11/2018 11:13:11

Uddhav Thackeray told media, "Saints who blessed me yesterday, I'd told them that the work which we're about to begin can't be done without their blessings.I've no hidden agenda in coming to Ayodhya.I've come to express sentiments of all Indians&Hindus across world.All are waiting for RamTemple."

25/11/2018 11:11:52

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray accompanied by his wife Rashmi and son Aditya, have embarked on a high-profile visit to Ayodhya on Sunday. It is is the Thackerays' first-ever visit to the holy city, though in the past his father and founder of the Shiv Sena, the late Bal Thackeray had travelled to Uttar Pradesh on a couple of occasions.