VHP panel, saints to meet today to decide on Ram Mandir movement, likely to announce ‘Kar Seva’ dates

The meet will be attended by prominent seers associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement

image courtesy: PTI

New Delhi: A one-day meeting of the VHP's high-powered committee to decide the future course of action on the construction of Ram temple in disputed Ayodhya will be held today. The VHP has called a meeting of its 36 saints to discuss the Ram Mandir issue. This comes days after Rashtriya Swamsewak Sangh Chief Mohan Bhagwat made a statement on Ram Mandir where he pitched for an early construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the acting chief of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas who heads the committee, will chair the meeting, and it will be attended by prominent seers associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, VHP's international working president Alok Kumar said. Kumar had said the all options to pursue the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, including a campaign, are open before the VHP. Last week, the Supreme Court had declined to refer to a five-judge constitution bench the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgment that a mosque was not integral to Islam which had arisen during the hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute. The apex court had said now the civil suit on land dispute will be heard by a newly constituted three-judge bench on October 29. "The facts will be placed before the seers and we will seek their guidance in this matter," Kumar said. Kumar said, "All options are open before us, including reviving the campaign for construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya." He said that asking the government to bring a law in Parliament for construction of the Ram temple is also one of the options which the VHP is considering. Kumar termed the Modi government as one of "Ram Bhakts" and has no doubt about their intentions. (additional input PTI)