Sea of saffron at Ramlila Maidan as VHP presses govt on law for Ram temple

Stepping up pressure on the government to enact a legislation for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, the VHP on Monday put on a massive show of strength in the capital where RSS leader Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi made a veiled attack at the BJP for not fulfilling its poll promise on the temple issue.

Thousands of people wearing saffron caps and raising slogans such as 'We don't want sample, we want temple' and 'Ram rajya phir layenge, mandir wahin banayenge' (will bring Ram rajya, construct a temple there), packed the Ramlila Maidan here.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) rally assumes significance as it comes ahead of Parliament's winter session starting Tuesday.

Several Hindu priests and senior RSS and VHP functionaries addressed the massive gathering and stated that the judiciary should be mindful of people's sentiments.

At the rally, RSS general secretary Joshi said, "Those in power today had promised to construct a Ram Temple. They should listen to people and fulfil the demand of a temple in Ayodhya. They are aware of the sentiments."
Without naming the BJP, he said, "We are not begging for it. We are expressing our emotions. The country wants 'Ram rajya'."
Swami Hansdevacharya of Haridwar "warned" Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, "We will not let him off his seat until the temple is built. He must fulfil his promise."