Ayodhya on alert for VHP, Shiv Sena events; 1 lakh people expected to attend
Nearly 4000 Sainiks arrived in Ayodhya ahead of their Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s visit.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray reached Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya on Saturday for a two-day visit even as people continued to stream in for a Dharam Sabha or religious meeting called on Sunday by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, both events meant to push for the construction of Ram temple.
Hundreds of policemen have been deployed at the disputed Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Majid site and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed. Devotees are being allowed darshan at the makeshift temple there in small batches, a senior officer said.
The Uttar Pradesh Police has sounded a statewide alert, fearing disruption to law and order during the VHP’s Dharam Sabha on Sunday, when more than one lakh people are expected to converge in the town. This is expected to be the largest gathering in the town since 1992, when thousands of Kar Sevaks had uprooted barricades and razed the 16th century Babri Masjid on December 6 that year.
People have started coming in for the VHP’s Dharam Sabha, which will be held at the sprawling Bade Bhakt Mahal ground. Every dharamshala in the city is full to capacity and hotels are all booked.
Thackeray, who arrived in Ayodhya on Saturday afternoon, sought blessings of Ayodhya saints and addressed a gathering at Lakshman Quila. On Sunday, the Shiv Sena leader will visit the makeshift Ram Temple at 9 am.
Nearly 5000 Sainiks arrived in Ayodhya in two special trains ahead of their leader’s visit and Sena posters and flags were seen lining the roads.
The Shiv Sena has demanded an ordinance or executive order for the construction of a Ram temple and claims it has the support of more than 400 members of Parliament cutting across party lines.
“The Babri mosque was demolished in 17 minutes...How long does it take to prepare papers... to bring ordinance... from the Rashtrapati Bhawan to Uttar Pradesh assembly...They are all BJP governments,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said on Friday.
