Hindus will not rest until Ram Temple is built in Ayodhya: VHP resolution at Kumbh Mela

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday criticised the “delay” in the Supreme Court in deciding the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute, and adopted a resolution saying the Hindus will not rest until a grand temple is built at the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. A congregation called by the VHP at the Kumbh Mela venue in Prayagraj also praised the Modi government Centre for filing a petition seeking the court's permission to return the “surplus” land adjacent to the disputed site. The resolution said the seers had “expectations” from the Centre on the Ram temple issue and by filing the petition it had made clear its commitment.

“There certainly has been a delay in the construction of the Ram temple, but we are sure that it will take meaningful steps in resolving the Ram Temple and other issues related to Hindu pride,” the resolution said in Hindi.

Some participants also blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government.

Addressing the meeting earlier, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said the temple issue is now at a “decisive stage”.

“The Ram Temple is on the verge of being built. So we must tread cautiously,” he said.

“People should be made aware of the issue and, if needed, there should be an expression of anger,” the RSS head said.

Former union minister Swami Chinmayanand criticised the Supreme Court for showing haste while deciding on the Sabarimala matter but saying that the Ayodhya issue was not a priority.

In that gathering on Wednesday, Puri Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati had called for a ceremony at the disputed site on February 21 to mark the beginning of its construction.

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"We all know that Mandir can't be built in a single day, but one has to start building to complete it," Shankaracharya said. "We will have to build Angkor Wat type Ram Temple in Ayodhya," he added. Swami Swaroopanand said they are ready to take bullets if stopped from going ahead with the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He also demanded that Ayodhya should be given the status of Vatican city.

“They are planning to construct a statue by taking possession of the land around Ram Janmbhoomi and not the 0.3 acres of the disputed land,” Saraswati said. “How did you decide that land should be returned, who are you (govt) to decide. We have to construct grand ram temple in those 66 acres,” he added.

The Shankaracharya criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government for not bringing legislation to enable the construction of the temple, even though it had an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha. 

The Ram Temple at the disputed Ayodhya site was on top of agenda of the two-day “dharm sansad”, the religious council which on Friday was presided over by Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas head Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.

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(With PTI inputs)