New Delhi, November 4: A congregation of Hindu seers here on Sunday demanded the government bring an ordinance or a law for construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya, and added they would hold meetings across the country to rally public sentiments in the matter. "The seers have declared - either bring a law or an ordinance for building Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. We agree to both conditions," Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, National Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti that organised the two-day event that concluded on Sunday, told media. "In a democracy, public's mandate is a major factor. If people's opinion can make a government, then to form the public opinion (towards our cause) we are ready to do rallies and public meetings," he added. Besides resolving to push for a law on Ram temple, the Sant Samiti announced it would be holding large "dharm sabhas" (religious gatherings) at Ayodhya, Bengaluru and Nagpur on November 25 and in New Delhi on December 9.

It also plans to hold public meetings in 500 districts across the country. The body has requested the people to light an extra lamp for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. On the question of the matter being sub-judice in the Supreme Court and the apex court scheduled to hear it in January next year, Jitendranand Saraswati said that when "public sentiments are roused, courts across the world take up matters overnight". "The government makes a system. The courts' job is to interpret the law, not to make it," he added. Construction of Ram Temple Will Begin Before 2019 General Elections, Says BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti.

Spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said it was important to be "sensitive towards the public sentiment" who want a grand Ram temple built at Ayodhya. "The entire seer community has three options before it, first is that of talks. We should continue talks. Second is that we wait for the court's decision, and request it to dispose of the matter at the earliest. The third option is that we speak to the government to take some step in this regard," Sri Sri said. Ram Temple Row: Build Ram in Your Heart, Says Shashi Tharoor.

He said it was not seers who needed a temple but the common people. "The seers do not need a temple. They have a temple wherever they sit. It is the public who want that a grand Ram temple be built. They have this hope. We should be sensitive towards their hopes," he added. The seers also demanded hi-tech fencing of Bangladesh border to stop infiltration, Assam-like NRC in all states of the country, tough law against illegal immigrants, identification and deportation of Rohingya Muslims, a separate ministry for cow welfare and passing of Ganga Management Act in Parliament. The Sant Samiti in a statement asked the voters to vote for those who believe in "Ganga, Geeta, Gayatri, Govind and Gau (cow)". It said that the seers believed that the present government would fulfil their expectations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 05, 2018 09:32 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).