VHP prepares to get going on Ayodhya verdict

As the government gears up to contain the anticipated fallout of the court verdict on the title suit of the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhumi complex in Faizabad, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has organised a gathering of 45 religious leaders in Delhi to take a final decision on the steps that might be needed after the court pronounces its judgment.

The two-day gathering, termed Sant Uchaadhikar Samiti, would start on September 24, the day the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court is scheduled to announce its judgement in the 60-year dispute.

The hardline Hindu organisation has already started mobilising people, especially in villages and small towns, to come forward and express discontent against political parties and the Union government for failing to solve the dispute. It has also sought help from retired army officers, bureaucrats and university teachers to come forward for creation of a Ram temple.

“All Hindus should come forward and take part because it is a religious movement and it doesn’t have anything to do with vote bank politics. Our religious leaders have emphasised that people should not take part in any kind of violent activities and must not politicise the issue,” said Prakash Sharma, the national joint organiser of the Shri Hanumat Shakti Jagran Samiti, which is spearheading the initiative.

Sharma said VHP members would speak to serving government staffers to put pressure on their department heads to take part in the movement.

If this was not enough, the VHP has also sought divine help. Followers are already organising prayers at smaller temples in residential colonies across the country to motivate people to come forward and put pressure on the government for creation of the temple at Ayodhya. The Hanumat Shakti Jagran had started on August 16 and would continue till mid-November.

“We have identified around a million temples where Hanuman Chalisa Paath is being organised every day. Our members will explain to people the urgent need for a temple at the disputed site,” Sharma added.