VHP vs Shiv Sena: Lakhs throng Ayodhya to observe 'Super Sunday'

Lucknow: Ahead of the massive show of strength by the Bharatiya Janata Party at the controversial Ram Janam Bhoomi Ayodhya, Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, on Friday, said that Bhakts took 17 minutes to demolish the Babri Masjid but why it was taking so long for a law to build a temple there?

"We demolished the Babri Masjid in 17 minutes but for paper work why it is taking so much time for drafting a law or ordinance?" said Raut while talking to reporters.

Sanjay is in the templetown from last couple of days along with hundreds of supporters. Thousands of Sena supporters will arrive tonight with two special trains.

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Raut demanded that the government enact a law for “quick construction of a grand Ram temple” in Ayodhya.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) backed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are due to hold a ‘Dharma Sabha’ on Sunday to press for an early construction of a Ram temple.

Several trains, buses, tractor trolleys, taxis have been booked by the organisers to ferry people from across the state to be part of the congregation, which the VHP has announced would be “the last before the war bugle is sounded.”

Police sources said there would be over two lakh people converging on Ayodhya on what is now being called the ‘Super Sunday’.

Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray is to attend several events in the temple town on Sunday and is likely to pitch in for early construction of the grand Ram temple.

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The Ayodhya case is before the Supreme Court and is scheduled for hearing in January next year.

Government sources said local intelligence units have been “alerted” and extra security deployment has been made ahead of the Shiv Sena chief’s visit.

What is worrying the security agencies, insiders say, is the fact that many VHP and even the ruling BJP lawmakers have openly threatened a “repeat of 1992” on Sunday. Beria (Barabanki district) legislator Surendra Singh has publicly said that if things do not move fast towards an early announcement of the Ram temple, “they will not hesitate in taking law in their hands”.

Government has said that “Ram bhakts” can gather in Ayodhya and perform rituals, on the other, it has asked the police and the district administration to be extra vigilant.

On Friday the temple town turned into a fortress with the police dividing Ayodhya into eight zones and 16 sectors. State Chief Secretary Pradesh Anoop Chandra Pandey, principal secretary (home) Arvind Kumar and Director General of Police (DGP) O.P. Singh have reviewed the town’s security through video-conferencing.

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The state government has also increased the number of provincial armed constabulary (PAC) from 20 to 48.

“There is nothing to fear. We are vigilant and the law and order will be maintained,” said the DGP on Friday.