Opposition raises issue of Ram Mandir, forcing adjournment

Two truck loads of stones for constructing the temple reportedly arrived in Ayodhya earlier this week, prompting agitation

Opposition Congress, SP and JD-U in the Rajya Sabha today raised the issue of stones arriving in Ayodhya from Gujarat and Rajasthan for construction of the Ram Temple, forcing a brief adjournment.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, K C Tyagi (JD-U) said the circumstances for a communally-charged atmosphere are being created ahead of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Two truck loads of stones for construction of the temple have reportedly arrived in Ayodhya earlier this week.

Such activities are being planned "only to charge up the atmosphere," he said, quoting a reported statement by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das that there was a "signal" from the Modi government that the temple would be built "now".

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that stone carving for the construction of the temple has been going on at a site 1.5 km away from the disputed site since 1990.

The government and the BJP are of the view that the court decision on the dispute should be accepted, he said.

There was no ban on carving of stones and the religious leaders quoted have been living in Ayodhya, he said, adding that stone carving does not mean that the temple was being built. "Please wait for the court's decision. All of us should respect it," he said.

But the opposition members were not satisfied by the statement and moved into the Well of the House shouting slogans like "UP Mein Dange Ki Saazish Band Karo (Stop conspiracy to incite communal violence)."

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said there was no confusion after Naqvi's statement and that the government and party will go by the court verdict.

"Why do you disturb the Zero Hour? Why do you agitate? The Minister has made it clear that the government will go by the court decision. It is unnecessary. Go back," he told the agitating members.

But none heeded to his pleas, forcing him to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.