Ram Mandir: From Advani To Kalyan Singh, A Look At People Behind Ayodhya Movement

Here is a lookback at the role and contribution of leaders like LK Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti and others.

Ayodhya Ram Temple Bhoomi Pujan: After over 500 years of wait, the road to Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Rama is now unhindered. The construction will go on with full swing after Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform Bhoomi Pujan at the holy site today. Prime Minister Modi will address the nation in an hour-long speech today. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will also be present in the ceremony. The struggle for restoring Ram Lalla back to his birth place was pioneered by several Hindu wing leaders which included leaders from BJP, VHP & RSS apart from several seer groups.  Here is a look at key faces who spearheaded the movement. Must Follow: LIVE Updates on Ayodhya ground-breaking ceremony LK Advani: Then one of the most prominent BJP leader, played a crucial role in the movement of Ram Temple. Under Advani, the BJP became the political face of the Ayodhya dispute over the Ram Janmabhoomi. Advani embarked on a "Rath Yatra", or chariot journey, to mobilise karsevaks, or volunteers, to converge upon the Babri Masjid to offer prayers. Murli Manohar Joshi: A top BJP leader at that time, also played key role in the temple movement, giving it the much-needed political push with their party. The BJP's rise in India politics is directly linked to the temple movement and the role played by these two leaders (Advani). Praveen Togadia: Parveen Togadia, then a senior VHP leader, was also known for his proactive role in the temple movement. He lost his clout after the demise of Ashok Singhal. Vinay Katiyar: A firebrand Hindu leader, Katiyar, was also the founder of the Bajrang Dal that gave a cutting edge to the temple movement. Katiyar went on to become a three-term MP from Ayodhya but later slid into political oblivion. IN PICS | This Is How The Iconic Ram Mandir In Ayodhya Will Look Like After Completion Kalyan Singh: Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh was another important player in the temple movement. He was UP chief minister when the Babri mosque was demolished and his government was dismissed the same day. Kalyan Singh was convicted for contempt of court because he had promised to protect the mosque. Uma Bharti and Sadhvi Rithambhara: They led the women brigade in the temple movement. Both were known for their fiery speeches. Cassettes of Rithambhara's fiery speeches were sold at a premium in the market and were enough to ignite communal violence. Also Watch:  Know all about the leaders behind Ram Mandir movement