Akhilesh wants order, amid reports of rekindling Ram temple movement

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday asked his chief secretary and other senior officials to ensure that the status quo was maintained at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

The directions came amid reports that work has been initiated to chisel stones and rocks at Karsewakpuram in the temple town with regard to Ram temple construction.

Principal Secretary (Home) has also been asked to ensure that law and order is maintained at all costs.

"The matter of Ayodhya is sub-judice and is before the Supreme Court and the state government is committed to ensure it is abided by in letter and spirit," Yadav said.

Instructions have also been issued to officials across the state to maintain vigil and extra precaution be taken in sensitive districts.

After reports that a truck load of stones have been brought to Karsevakpuram in the vicinity of the dispute site, both sides involved in the dispute on Monday raised the tempers with their statements.

This is the same site, where Babri mosque once stood. It now houses the idols of Ram Lalla (Lord Ram in infancy) under a temporary shed.

Petitioner from the Muslim side, Hashim Ansari said the activity being undertaken by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other affiliate groups was not good and that even the Muslim side can resort to such pressure tactics.

"We believe that since the matter is before the SC, the matter can only be settled by judicial process," the 80-year-old petitioner added.

On the other hand, Mahant Nritya Gopaldas said he was hopeful that the apex court would take a decision in sync with the public sentiments.

Having done the 'shila pujan' of the new stones and rocks on Sunday, the seer said that since 2007, the consignment of rocks from Rajasthan had come to a grinding halt and the matter has been resolved after a Bharatiya Janata Party government came to power there.

"This is nothing new, it is just that once the necessary material has started coming again, we are propitiating the Gods," he added.

Former MP from Faizabad and Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Nirmal Khatri, however, accused the BJP of rekindling the Ram Janma issue once again to hide failures of the Narendra Modi government at the centre.

Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh assembly and senior Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Swamy Prasad Maurya told IANS that Ayodhya issue had lost steam and people had realized that the BJP used their sentiments and emotions for electoral gains in the 1990s.