Lucknow, October 24: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has sent 70 trucks loaded with stones to the temple town of Ayodhya, where its affiliated artisans stationed at the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Nirman Karyashala (workshop) would carve them into pillars. The quantum of stones dispatched to the sensitive town is nearly four times more than what the VHP has been periodically been bringing in Ayodhya.

VHP's international vice president Champat Rai said the organisation would escalate its preparation for a Ram Mandir in the forthcoming days, as they are expecting a favourable verdict from the Supreme Court. "There is no question of stepping back now. This fight is for the victory of the truth," he told reporters. Shashi Tharoor on Ram Mandir in Ayodhya: No Good Hindu Wants Temple by Razing Masjid.

At Karsevak Puram region in Ayodhya, a renewed vigour is seen among the temple proponents, with the buzz surrounding the model of temple to be finalised by the VHP. According to local kar sevaks, temple would at least be three-storeys tall.

The apex court will be beginning its final round of hearing the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case from October 29. The verdict could be out as early as December 2018.

The prime litigant from the Muslim side, Iqbal Ansari, said the VHP is attempting should reduce its presence from Ayodhya as the matter is currently sub-judice. The ruling BJP at the Centre and in the state should prevent kar sevaks from getting into an overdrive, he demanded.

Notably, the UP government has escalated police presence in Ayodhya to douse off any potential communal row. The road to Ramjanmabhumi was closed on Tuesday, with armed policeman manning the route.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 24, 2018 04:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).