Ayodhya: Security has been tightened ahead of two big events organised by Shiv Sena and VHP.
Ayodhya, a temple town in Uttar Pradesh, is on edge as Shiv Sena and Vishwa Hindu Parishad raise pitch for the construction of the Ram temple.
The two groups have planned separate events in the temple town. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad is holding a mega religious gathering to mount preassure on the government. The organisation will hold a "dharma sansad" to discuss the way forward for the construction of the Ram temple.
The VHP has been mobilising support for its big event through bike rallies and processions across UP in the last few days.
The Shiv Sena has elaborate arrangements for its chief Uddhav Thackeray, who is on a two-day visit to the state. Mr Thackeray will offer prayers at the Ram janmabhoomi, participate in the aarti by the Sarayu river and will speak to saints and people there. He is carrying a pot full of soil from the Shivneri fort in Pune, which will be handed over to the mahant or priest at the janmabhoomi.
Here are the LIVE updates on VHP, Shiv Sena events today:
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said Shiv Sena had no role in the temple movement.
"There is no problem in Uddhav Thackeray catching a glimpse of Ram Lalla... But, had Balasaheb Thackeray been alive, he would have prevented Uddhav from doing whatever he is doing," Mr Maurya was quoted by news agency PTI.
"The Shiv Sena had no role in the temple movement or even in the Dharam Sabha, though Balasaheb Thackeray would support the Vishwa Hindu Parishad," he said.
The administration has put in place drone cameras to keep an eye on the people assembling for the VHP meet.
Shiv Sena is believed to have sent some 3,000 supporters by two trains from Maharashtra.
Uddhav Thackeray returns to the hotel after visiting the Ram Lalla temple earlier today. (ANI)
All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) chief Zafaryab Jilani said that Muslims in Ayodhya are "terrified" ahead of the VHP meeting. "The Muslims living in Ayodhya are terrified since about the past week. We have also asked those feeling insecure to come to Lucknow if they want," Mr Jilani told news agency PTI.
The VHP, in the last few weeks, mobilised support for the rally across Uttar Pradesh through bike rallies, processions and other public events. Ayodhya has turned into a fortress with multiple layers of security and deployment of drones as VHP and Shiv Sena supporters arrived in the temple town.
Uddhav Thackeray leaves for Ram lalla temple.
Mr Thackeray arrived in Ayodhya yesterday, with his wife Rashmi and son Aditya. He was greeted with "Jai Shree Ram" slogans and Mahant Nrityagopal Das, the chairman of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, was among those who welcomed him at Lakshman Qila. Mr Thackeray claimed that his two-day visit to Ayodhya is not linked to the VHP event. He described his visit as the first one to the temple town to seek 'darshan' of Ram Lalla.
Uddhav Thackeray will hold a press conference today, where he is expected to push for the construction of the Ram temple. The Shiv Sena leader will do a darshan in the ram janmabhoomi today.
Various organisations are holding programmes in Ayodhya on Saturday for an early construction of the Ram temple there.
The Shiv Sena has been accused of politicising the Ram temple issue. On Saturday, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said Sena was raking up the Ram temple issue ahead of the Lok Sabha polls to divert attention from their failures.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the two big events. An Uttar Pradesh police spokesperson said 35 senior police officers, in addition to 160 inspectors and 700 constables, have been deployed in Ayodhya. Forty-two companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary, five companies of the Rapid Action Force and several anti-terrorism squad commandos have also deployed. They are being supported by drones.
Two lakh people are expected to attend the VHP event today. The organisation says the agenda of "dharma sansad" is to discuss the way forward for the construction of the Ram temple.
Another big event lined up for today is by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The right-wing organisation will hold a separate event on Sunday, which it says will be the biggest congregation of saints and supporters of the Ram temple since 1992, when the 16th-century Babri Masjid was destroyed by lakhs of right wing volunteers or karsewaks.
Uddhav Thackeray, who landed in Ayodhya on Saturday, wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a date when the construction of the Ram temple will begin. "First say when will you construct the temple, the rest we will talk later," he said in what sounded like a dare to the BJP ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections.
Mr Thackeray is being accompanied by his wife Rashmi and son Aditya. On Saturday, the Shiv Sena leader participated in aarti along the banks of the Sarayu river. Thousands of Shiv Sena arrived in Ayodhya for Ram Lalla's darshan.