Ram Mandir Row: Ayodhya Tense as VHP, Shiv Sena Mobilise Cadre For Massive Show of Strength on Sunday
Political observers claim the VHP event is an attempt by the BJP-RSS to overshadow Sena's massive mobilisation of party cadres in Ayodhya.
Lucknow, November 22: The temple town of Ayodhya remains tense over this weekend as two conservative group - the Maharashtra-based Shiv Sena and the RSS-affiliated Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) - are scheduled to hold massive show of strength. Cadres of both the Hindutva outfits are being mobilised to turn their respective events successful on Sunday.
While the VHP is organising a Dharm Sansad -- billed as the largest ever congregation of saints and seers in Ayodhya since 1992 -- to discuss the strategy to be adopted for Ram Mandir construction, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray would be doing a darshan of Ram Lalla at the makeshift temple. Bring Ordinance For Ram Mandir if it is Good For Country, Says Muslim Litigant in Ayodhya Case.
Political observers claim the VHP event is an attempt by the BJP-RSS to overshadow Sena's massive mobilisation of volunteers, party workers and supporters in a bid to corner the Narendra Modi government on the Ram Mandir issue.
The Thackeray-led party has been gearing-up for the Ayodhya event since September. Apart from their cadre base in UP, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, the party has booked train tickets for thousands of its workers in Maharashtra who are reaching Ayodhya for Sunday's event.
All legislators and MPs of the party, as well as Ministers in the Centre and the Maharashtra government, would be attending the programme on the banks of river Sarayu where Thackeray would be delivering a speech on Sena's contribution in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Senior Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has been camping in Lucknow since earlier in the week to oversee the preparations in Ayodhya. On Wednesday, he also held talks with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the Ram Mandir issue.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 22, 2018 05:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).