On Dussehra, Adityanath gives clarion call to build Ram Temple in Ayodhya

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called on cadres to start preparing for the construction of a temple dedicated to Lord Ram in Ayodhya, which is considered to be the birthplace of the Almighty.

The Chief Minister, while addressing a public gathering during Vijayadashmi celebrations here, said, "Like the grandeur of Ram Leela, we should start preparing for the construction of the grand Ram temple, the same way we prepare Ram Leela."

A day ahead of Adityanath's clarion call, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat had said that the government should bring in an "appropriate and requisite" law to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

"The construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya is necessary from the self-esteem point of view and it would also pave way for an atmosphere of goodwill and oneness. The place of janmabhoomi is yet to be allocated for the construction of the temple, although all kinds of evidence have affirmed that there was a temple at that place," he added.

Upset with the delay in the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday announced that he would visit Ayodhya on November 25.

"We warn everyone who thinks that Hindutva has died. We are still alive. We are saddened that Ram Temple has not been constructed yet. I will visit Ayodhya on November 25," Thackeray said.

The long-standing Ram Mandir matter is pending before the Supreme Court for its final resolution. The matter will next be heard on October 29.

Earlier, the court had asked the stakeholders of the issue to resolve the matter amicably out of the court.

The Babri Masjid, built by Mughal emperor Babur in Ayodhya in 1528, was, on December 6, 1992, pulled down allegedly by a group of Hindu activists, claiming that the mosque was constructed after demolishing a Ram Temple that originally stood there.