Bengaluru, Aug 4: Police barricades, yellow banners, walls with a fresh coat of paint and the sounds of bhajan mark parts of Ayodhya as the city awaits its big day Wednesday, when the first brick will be laid for the Ram temple.
Ayodhya is decked up for the bhoomi pujan that will be attended at the Ram Janmabhoomi by 175 people, who figure in a select guest list of seers and politicians topped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Concerned over the spread of coronavirus, the authorities are encouraging others not to come to the temple town, asking them to mark the occasion by celebrating at their homes. The groundbreaking ceremony will be telecast live.
Roads leading to Ayodhya display hoardings with the picture of the proposed Ram temple and of Ram Lalla, the infant Ram, the deity now housed in a makeshift temple.
Around the town’s Hanumangarhi area – named after a well-known temple which Modi will visit on Wednesday – both police sirens and ‘bhajans’ in praise of Ram are heard.
Most of the shops in the locality wear a new look, with their fronts painted in bright yellow. A large number of policemen were deployed there on Tuesday. Some sat in the sweet shops, waiting for their next instructions.
Roads leading into the area are barricaded. Yards of yellow cloth and marigold garlands were being hung on poles.
Even on the day before the event, security checks on vehicles heading to Ayodhya begin from adjoining Barabanki district itself on the Lucknow-Ayodhya road. Policemen take down details, including mobile numbers of the travellers.
Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar said the focus of the force is on maintaining the Covid-19 protocol.
“So we are not going to allow any outsider to enter Ayodhya city,” he said. Prohibitory orders are also in force and not more than four people will be allowed to gather.
“The markets and shops will remain open but with strict adherence to the Covid protocol,” he said. Outsiders will be stopped from entering the city, but Ayodhya residents will be allowed in if they produce any identification document.
“We are also carrying out random checks on people living in Ayodhya to ensure that no outsiders are staying here,” he said.
The city’s temples and mosques will remain open, but no other religious event – except for the bhoomi pujan – will take place on Wednesday.
Pickets have been set up at sensitive points in the city.
Sub-inspector Ram Chandra Yadav and constables Avnish Kumar and Ankit Chaudhary man the Terhi Bazar Chauraha picket near the Ram Janmabhoomi site.
"We are here for the past some days, and were on duty on the Rakshabandhan day. Duty comes first and only after that come other things in life, like festivals," Yadav said.
Mayank Gupta, who runs a restaurant, was handing out food packets to policemen, his customers.
"For the last two months, I have been providing tiffin to them twice a day. There are around 100 policemen to whom I supply tiffin," Gupta said.
The founder of Islamic Research Foundation has sought Rs 500 crore as damages from Arnab Goswami, Editor in Chief of Times Now and other office bearers.
Comments
Aranab is stinking......good job Zakir Naik Sir!.....he should make this person to sell his underwear to pay this money....
Need of the hour... such a cases should be booked as these (news channels) are deceiving people from knowing the reality .. and misguiding the people from the truth in all the matters.
Zakir naik has no case against him. So why to come india for the dongi cow swami.
If cow swami is arrested who will bark on barking news.
Times now might be called as lie now.
I request income tax dept to kindly check what arnab goswamis total wealth, what he earns & how much is his asset.... i can assure you there will be lot of illegal wealth with him....who sponsored u people very well know
Most of these converted/( they are reverted ) are highly qualified in India.
in West -Europe and US daily people flock into 95% of them are
high highly qualified.
Yes you may disagree with section of sects of Muslims, but it is nothingto do with Islam. Islam itself doesn't allow any forcible conversion. Acceptance should come by their heart and belief.
Please note conversion does not benefit others. The holy quran clearly discourage any compulsion.
In brief Dr. Naik is fully complies islamic propagation
Guidelines
His friends are senior qualified Hindu celebrities
Please come for debate
If media interviews can judge a person and decide then why do we have courts....all bla bla comments from gaaf jale sangheez and porbooz....
So do you accept modiji as killer of Gujarat which was also a media issue....watch on YouTube and enjoy the interview between modi and Karan tappar on CNN IBN....
you dont worth 5 rs frame so wt is there to defame..........notice india aneeko fathat hey cupha huva hey bill mey
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