Dharam Sabha highlights: Justice being denied, SC must rule soon, says RSS

The RSS has also thrown in its support to make the event a show of strength, to pressurise the BJP government into acting for the early construction of the temple

9:41 PM

Ayodhya event aimed at diverting attention from BJP's failures: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav

 

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says the 'joint show' of the VHP, the RSS, the BJP and other organisations in Ayodhya for the construction of Ram temple was intended to divert attention from alleged failures of the ruling dispensation in curbing blackmoney and in creating enough employment, reported PTI

9:34 PM

Uttarakhand CM bats for Ram temple

 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said the whole world looks upon the holy city as the birthplace of lord Ram. He said dispute with regard to the temple in Ayodhya is only over land which the government can resolve by framing a law in accordance with the Constitution

8:49 PM

Ayodhya issue BJP's prte-poll 'gimmick' says Opposition

With various saffron outfits upping their ante on the Ram temple issue in Ayodhya, the UP opposition parties dubbed their activities as a BJP's "political gimmick" before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls aimed at exploiting the peoples' "sentiments" in its favour. Accoring to a report by PTI, SP leader and MLC Rajpal Kashyap said raking up the Ram temple issue and renaming cities will not work this time and that it is 'bound to taste defeat'. 

 

8:11 PM

Kapil Sibal rubbishes PM Modi's 'Congress behind Ram temple delay' claim

 

Veteran Congress leader quashes PM Modi's claim that Congress was responsible for a delayed verdict in the Ayodhya case, reported PTI. He also challenged PM Modi to make allegations against CJI Ranjan Gogoi, who had declared in October that the matter was not a priority for the Supreme Court.

8:07 PM

Grand ram temple should be constructed after SC order

 

Union minister Piyush Goyal ion Sunday said a magnificent Ram temple should be constructed in Ayodhya after the Supreme Court's judgment and with popular consensus. The Railway minister said the BJP has always made it clear that a Ram temple should be constructed at the birth place of lord Rama.

7:15 PM

Bhim Army chief to visit Ayodhya on Monday

 

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad alleged the 'Dharma Sabha' frenzy in Ayodhya aims to whip up communal frenzy, instigate violence and use bloodshed to polarise voters ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He will visit the temple town on Monday to urge the authorities to ensure that law and order prevails in the temple town. 

 

6:50 PM

Congress is 'delaying' construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya

PM Modi on Sunday accused Congress party of adopting "delaying tactics" in the Supreme Court to create hurdles in the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya and playing a "dangerous game" of threatening the judges with impeachment. "Ïs it fair to drag the judiciary into the country's politics this way?" said PM Modi while addressing a campaign rally at Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, reported IANS. Read more here

6:27 PM

5:46 PM

Distribution of land is not acceptable to us, says VHP

The VHP on Sunday said they will not cede an inch of land for anything but a Ram temple and demanded from the Sunni Waqf Board that they withdraw their case over distribution of the disputed land as ordered by the Allahabad High Court, reported IANS. Champat Rai, International Vice President of VHP, told a large gathering of supporters at Ayodhya that the issue is non-negotiable for Hindus. "The distribution of land is not acceptable to us and we want the whole land for Lord Ram," he declared before the 75,000-strong cheering crowds. Read more here

5:43 PM

Hordes of activists of both the VHP and the Shiv Sena, who have gathered here from various parts of the country, bear saffron flags and chant 'Jai Shri Ram'. The streets of Ayodhya were filled with Right-wing activists who have poured in from various parts of the county for the VHP grand event on Sunday, even as security has been heightened in the temple town to maintain law and order. Posters of the VHP mega event and Sena proclaiming 'Chalo Ayodhya' compete with each other to grab eyeballs of residents, even as rhetoric takes centre stage in the pilgrim town reported PTI.

5:04 PM

"In my opinion, there should be no talks of constructing the temple at the disputed land. We have seen the amount of damage that has been done because of this. We were defamed worldwide for not maintaining peace," said Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (PSP) leader Shivpal Singh Yadav at Lucknow on Sunday. Read more here

4:47 PM

Ram temple is not a political issue, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said Sunday and expressed hope that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who is in Ayodhya, would get the blessings of Lord Ram. A senior BJP leader also said that the Sena, which is its ally at the Centre and in Maharashtra, will remain its partner for the Maharashtra Assembly and the Lok Sabha polls due next year. Read more here

4:36 PM

The All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) on Sunday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking his intervention in the Ayodhya situation where thousands of Hindu activists and leaders have gathered for a 'Dharma Sabha'. The letter said construction of a grand Ram temple at the disputed site was not only a threat for the law and order situation of the twin towns of Ayodhya-Faizabad but also for the entire nation. The letter further said any attempt to change the current status quo of the Babri Masjid area it would be in total violation of the various directions and judgments of the Supreme Court. Read more here.

4:15 PM

3:02 PM

Modi, BJP 'anti-Muslim': Azam Khan

 

With thousands of Hindu activists congregating at Ayodhya for the mega 'Dharam Sabha', senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Sunday lashed out at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling them "anti-Muslim". (Read more here) 

2:59 PM

Shivpal Yadav meets UP Governor over Ayodhya developments

 

President of the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) Shivpal Singh Yadav met Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Sunday and expressed his concern over the "large and unlawful" gathering of people in Ayodhya. Emerging out of the meeting, the former state minister said it was a matter of grave concern that despite prohibitory orders, hundreds of thousands of people were allowed and even facilitated by the state government to gather in the temple town. (Read more here) 

2:24 PM

"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 a temple on a disputed land," Shivpal Yadav, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia, told ANI in Lucknow on Sunday.

2:20 PM

PM Modi blames Congress for delayed Ram Temple verdict

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress party of interfering in the Supreme Court's proceedings on the Ram Temple-Babri Masjid case. "When their shameless tactics fail, they use the threat of impeachment to bend the judges to their will. This is a dangerous play. The Congress is committing a crime by using impeachment to stop lawful procedures. They are enslaving the country using their power in the Rajya Sabha," PM Modi said. (Read more here) 

2:10 PM

If the devotees are shouting slogans like "har ghar bhagwa chaayega, Ram rajya phir ayaegaa" or "tel lagao Dabur kaa, naam mitao Babar ka", the excited youngsters in the crowd cannot resist the desire for clicking selfies to capture the excitement and enthusiasm in the air, much to the surprise of elders in the crowd. 

2:08 PM

2:07 PM

Flower petals were being showered on the Ram devotees moving towards the sabha venue, reported PTI. 

2:05 PM

The involvement of some Muslims, led by member of Ayodhya Zila Panchayat Babloo Khan, who has been linked to the movement since the past three years, emphasises the composite culture of the town. Khan is of the view that Ayodhya's Muslims want a temple. 

2:04 PM

Bhajans of Lord Ram are being played at different places all along the route. 

2:01 PM

The surging crowds from not just neighbouring cities but also from far off places, clad in saffron robes and "safas", were seen moving in groups to Badey Bhaktmaal ki Bagia, the venue of the dharam sabha.  

1:59 PM

The lanes and by-lanes of Ayodhya have come alive to the loud chants of "Jai Shree Ram" this bright Sunday morning, with devotees from all walks of life descending on the town to take part in VHP's "dharam sabha" to discuss the way forward for the construction of the Ram Temple, reported PTI. (Read more here) 

1:56 PM

1:53 PM

It's either now or war, say VHP

 

In a statement, quoted by news agency PTI, VHP regional organisational secretary Bholend said there would be no more congregations and the next stop for them would be the beginning of the temple's construction. "Ab mandir nirman ke liye sabhayein, pradarshan aur dharna ityadi nahin honge, na hi virodhiyon ko samjhaya jayega... seedhe mandir nirman hoga (There would no longer be meetings, processions and protests for Ram temple, opponents will no longer be engaged with... There will only be temple construction)," he added. This is the last time an effort is being made to make the people opposing the temple construction realise the facts, the VHP leader said.

 

He also said that if all efforts fail, then "war" was the only way. 

1:41 PM

1:34 PM

But many in Ayodhya are miffed over these events, which seek to whip up communal frenzy. Aman Kumar, a stone craftsman, when asked about the current situation surrounding the controversial temple issue, told PTI: "People of Ayodhya, of all communities, have always lived in peace. It is outsiders and politicians with agenda, who come to our town and vitiate the atmosphere."

1:33 PM

The streets of Ayodhya are awash with saffron colour as flag-bearing activists camped at 'akharas' moved around in various parts of the city, and held informal gathering.