Ayodhya turns into fortress ahead of Uddhav Thackeray's visit, VHP's 'Dharma Sabha'

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday urged the Supreme Court to take note of the growing developments in Ayodhya and call in the Army to keep the situation under control. Yadav's statement came as Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray, activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the RSS head for Ayodhya to build support for the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed land.

The Uttar Pradesh town has turned into a fortress the state government has deployed 1 ADGP, 1 DIG, 3 SSPs, 10 ASPs, 21 DSPs, 160 Inspectors, 700 Constables, 42 Companies of PAC, 5 Companies of RAF, ATS Commandos and drone cameras in Ayodhya to maintain the law and order. 

"The BJP does not believe in either the Supreme Court or the Constitution. The BJP can go to any extent. The kind of environment there is in UP, especially in Ayodhya, the SC should take notice of it and bring in the Army, if necessary," said Yadav.

Thackeray will reach Ayodhya on Saturday afternoon and will then attend different events during his visit. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has declared that it will organise a ‘Hunkar’ rally in Ayodhya on Sunday.

Thackeray is scheduled to reach Ayodhya at 2 pm on Saturday, following which he will honour saints and priests at an event at Lakshman ‘quila’. At around 6 pm, he is expected to attend the Saryu river aarti.

The BJP has been under immense pressure from its allies as well as its ideological mentor RSS to bring an ordinance or special order for the construction of the Ram temple. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday once again targeted the BJP over the demand for special law to allow the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya.

"Humne 17 minute mein Babri tod di, to kanoon banane mein kitna time lagta hai? Rashtrapati Bhavan se lekar UP tak BJP ki sarkar hai. Rajya Sabha mein aise bahot sansad hai jo Ram mandir ke saath khade rahenge, jo virodh karega uska desh mai ghumna mushkil hoga.” (“We brought down Babri in 17 minutes. How much time does it take to draw up papers? If you talk about an ordinance, then from the President's House to Uttar Pradesh, it is the BJP all the way. What else do you want?” Raut told reporters.

The Babri mosque in Ayodhya was demolished by hundreds of  Hindu activists on December 6, 1992, who believed it was built on the ruins of an ancient temple marking the birthplace of Lord Ram.

(With agency inputs)