Dharam Sabha in Ayodhya: Top developments and reactions

The 'Dharam Sabha' is being touted as the largest congregation of 'Ram bhakts' in Ayodhya since the 1992 'kar seva'.

Several religious 'akharas' have turned into debating venues to discuss the issue of Ram temple. At many places, passers-by can see small trucks carrying projectors and a screen to showcase 'Ramayana', a famous 1986 TV series.


More than 100 prominent Hindu seers, including Mahant Ravindra Puri, Mahant Suresh Das of the Digambar Akhada, head of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Jagatguru Ramanadcharya Hansdevacharya from Haridwar, Jagatguru Ramanandacharya Swami Ram Bhadracharya, Swami Gyananad Giri from Odisha were part of the religious congregation.

Hindu devotees and Ram temple supporters from around 50 districts of Uttar Pradesh have been mobilised for the show of strength.

The administration, however, said that the number of devotees coming to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla has dropped in the past few days, apparently because of security concerns and the tension ahead of the rally. On Saturday, 17,680 people visited Ram Lalla, a number which on Friday was 49,112.

* Security tightened

Elaborate security arrangements have been made across the city to prevent any incidents of violence. Heavy deployment of CAPF(Central Armed Police Forces), PAC(Provincial Armed Constabulary), ATS(Anti-Terrorism Squad) has been done. Drone cameras being used to assess the crowd. Thirteen parking spots have been designated, 2000 buses from various places have come to Ayodhya. The entire city has been demarcated into various zones and a colour-coded security scheme has been implemented in the entire city — red zone and yellow zone are two main security zones.

"State government, state police and administration are committed to upholding the directions of the Supreme Court and High Court," a security official said.

There are 48 companies of the provincial armed constabulary (PAC) and 15 companies of para-military forces deployed on all major roads and intersections. Close circuit cameras have been installed at more than 150 places in the town along with drone-mounted ones hovering over the streets to keep an eagle eye on the surging crowds.

* IB alerts of an attack in Ayodhya

ADG (law and order) Anand Kumar said that the Intelligence Bureau alerted the city's administration of the possibility of an attack during the Dharam Sabha. "We have received a non-specific alert. An action is being taken. People from intelligence agencies under the state government and Centre have been deployed across the city and are monitoring the situation.

* Proven that temple was there; justice delayed is justice denied: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

Later in the day, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Nagpur said that the government should immediately enact a law now that the court has established that it (Ayodhya) was the birthplace of Lord Ram. "The matter is in Court, the decision should be given early. It has also been proved that the temple was there. Supreme Court is not giving priority to the case. Justice delayed is justice denied," Bhagwat said.

* Congress threatened SC judges, who tried to hear Ayodhya cases, with impeachment: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing an election rally in Rajasthan, alleged that the Congress threatened Supreme Court judges with impeachment when they tried to hear the Ayodhya dispute cases earlier this year.

Without naming anyone, Modi claimed that Congress party's Rajya Sabha members, who are also lawyers, had tried to scare away the apex court judges to ensure the hearing in the cases is delayed until after the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

* Congress leader Kapil Sibal refutes PM's claim that Congress was responsible for causing delay in the Ram temple case in SC

"Now, we are in November 2018, in between, when I was not there, nothing prevented the court from hearing the matter and disposing it off. So why doesn’t he make allegations against the judiciary," Sibal asked.

"When the matter came up in October, the Chief Justice said that this is not a priority matter for the court. So does the Prime Minister have the courage to make a statement against the judiciary and say that they don’t want to hear the matter," he said.

* Uddhav Thackeray offers prayer at Ram Lalla temple, says 'don't play with sentiments of Hindus'

After offering prayer at Ram Lalla temple in Ayodhya earlier in the day, the Shiv Sena chief said, "If the matter has to be resolved by the Supreme Court, then it should not be made poll agenda during election campaigning. BJP should not play with the sentiments of the Hindus."

Thackeray further said that the BJP should tell the people that Ram temple issue is their 'chunavi jumla' (election gimmick).

In a veiled attack at the BJP, he said that some politicians chanted "Ram-Ram" during the election campaign, but once the elections are over, they forget to fulfil their promises.

* 'Dates for construction of the temple to be announced early next year'

Ramji Das of Nirmohi Akhara told VHP's Dharam Sabha that dates for the same will be announced early next year during Kumbh in Prayagraj.

Addressing the Sabha after the inauguration marked by chanting of mantras at the Badey Bhaktmaal ki Bagia, Ramji Das said: "The date for construction of the Ram temple will be declared in the 2019 Kumbh which will be held in Prayagraj".

"It is only a matter of few days, and I request you all to show some patience," the seer remarked.

* MoS MEA VK Singh says no need of Army, state machinery sufficient

"There's enough law and order machinery available. I'm quite sure the govt being that of BJP, unlike other parties, will ensure that law and order is maintained.

* It is all due to elections: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge

"Everyone's going there due to elections. Who stopped Uddhav Thackeray from going there in past four to five year? On the one hand, they're friends with BJP and on the other hand, they want to tell the people that they're interested in constructing Ram temple and pressurising the government? People won't be befooled," he said.

* Temple could be constructed across the Sarayu river: Shivpal Yadav

"The case is in the SC, we should either wait for orders or find consensus. The government has a lot of land, it (Ram temple) could be constructed across the Sarayu river. There should be no talks of the temple on a disputed land," the former Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav said.

* Adityanath-led government in UP to install Ram statue in Ayodhya, to be taller than Statue of Unity

The Yogi government has firmed plans to install in the temple town a 221-metre statue of the Maryada Purushotam, taller than the Statue of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

While the "Statue of Unity", presently the world's tallest, installed in Gujarat's Narmada district on the 143rd birth anniversary of Patel, is 182 metres high, the one to come up in Ayodhya will be 221 metres.

While the height of the Ram statue will be 151 metres, its overhead umbrella would be of 20 metres height and the pedestal would be of 50 metres, Principal Secretary Information Avnish Awasthi said.

Inside the base, there will be a provision for a modern museum that will showcase the history of Ayodhya and the entire 'Ikshvaku Vansh' right from King Manu to the present status of Ram Janmabhoomi, he said, adding the statue will be made up of bronze.

* Shiv Sena had no role in the temple movement: UP deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya Sunday disapproved of the Shiv Sena's push for constructing a Ram temple here, saying the party 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,” Maurya said. “The Shiv Sena had no role in the temple movement or even in the Dharam Sabha, though Balasaheb Thackeray would have supported the Vishwa Hindu Parishad,” he added.

* BJP seeking votes in Lord Ram’s name: CPM Sitaram Yechury

The BJP and its allies are now seeking votes in Lord Ram's name, inciting religious sentiments, creating a Hindu-Muslim divide, CPIM leader Sitaram Yechury said, adding that his party aims to defeat their divisive politics and set up a secular state.

"The BJP and its partners are now seeking votes in the name of 'Ram'," the Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary said addressing the party's state conference in Tripura.