Ram Temple row: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Thursday started the two-day grand Dharma Sansad at the Kumbh in Prayagraj. The Sansad kicked off at around 1 pm today and is said to be attended by more than 5,000 seers and saints from across the country. These devotees of Lord Ram would deliberate upon the methods to accelerate the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Even Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to attend the event along with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat who has already reached Kumbh on Wednesday evening.

Despite Supreme Court’s restriction on immediate construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the Param Dharam Sansad on Wednesday made a massive announcement that the construction of the temple will begin from February 21. The religious group says that it respects the Supreme Court and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but also believes that the time has come for the construction of the temple.

Headed by Shankacharya Swaroopannand Saraswati, the Sansad also added that they will carry the four stones and go to Ayodhya to lay the foundation of the temple and initiate its construction. Speaking to news agency ANI, Saraswati said the 'dharam sansad', after a three-day meeting here decided that the foundation stone of the temple will be laid on February 21.

He also said the saints and those mobilized for the effort would not be deterred by arrests or any other kind of obstacles. The decision came a day after the government approached the Supreme Court for permission to restore the "excess" land surrounding the disputed portion in Ayodhya to Ram Janambhoomi Nyas.

The government, in a petition, sought direction for releasing to the Nyas 67 acres, which it had acquired about two-and-a-half decades back, leaving untouched 0.313 acres of disputed. The hearing in the Ayodhya title dispute case was scheduled for Tuesday but had to be deferred due to non-availability of Justice SA Bobde who is one of the five judges of the Constitution bench.