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 protesters, who gathered near the Sanskrit College Circle here, raised slogans glorifying Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt and slammed the Dalit leaders, who raised voice against him.
Comments
Why is Pejawar seer, BJP and RSS hiding behind these sold out , so-called Muslims. why can't they come out on their own?
This is amusing. First ask pejawar seer why he keeps endorsing all the abuses and threats against the Muslims community during the \Hindu samajotsavas\" where he's the main organiser. Pejawar seer is the leading light of the VHP and Bajrang Dal. Please ask him to tell his group the VHP and Bajrang Dal to stop killing and raping Muslims (nowadays in the name of beef as well), then he can ask for their support. Thank you"
These are Muslims just in name. We need to know how much BJP & RSS has promised to give them for this publicity stunt. pejawar is behind the growth of the RSS and BD in the region, that has made life of Muslims miserable, and think they are 2nd class citizens. He was a leading light of the Babri demolition, and also behind the gau rakshaks who beat up and kill muslim traders . Instead of hiding behind these 'Muslims for rent', BJP and RSS should \protect\" Pejawar themselves, if they have any shame"
oh
Abdullah told good answer
Members of Udupi District Muslim Souharda Vedike (Bunch of Jokers in Udupi) , first of all you people protect yourself then talk about protecting the temple.
One of your hardcore Member (ANSAR) he himself is a THIEF, he had stolen gold at his own home in 2003, his father registered complaint in Udupi town police station. after investigation police arrested him.
Who is this Arif. Is he representative of Muslim community. I think such people led the protesters of sangh parivar to pelt stones to Masjids and shops/houses belongs to Muslims. I hope these ppl gave information to sangh parivars aboutthe Muslims who sacrifice animals. Is he really Arif and only a name given by sangh parivar to divide muslim community.
Muslims got high respect on Shri Krishna Matt . One should not cause any harm to mutt. Shri Pejawar Swamiji had gone all along from Udupi to Ayodhya to destroy the Babri Masjid.
Please dont call Muslims ... Call MRM sold outs... to cheddis
This Swamiji motivated the terrorist goons to demolish 5 century old Babri Masjid. thereby destroyed secularism in India. now needs the support of bone-licking munafiks
Let those mutt swamis chelas protect it....why muslims....go and protect yourself...from hell fire.....
Pejawar seer is known as as a hardcore advocate of RSS
well done. Thank you for staging protest and showing solidarity.. let's unite for good cause.
Dear Muslim Brother's.
First protect yourself from Hell fire.Later you can think of protecting other's. First learn about Islam then advise your Pejawar Sree about Islam and life after death.
Fear ALLAH,Obey Prophet Muhammed(pbuh).
It is a plan of pejawara.
his mutt has given some money to non practicing muslims (only name is muslim).
He want to devide dalits and muslims.
Mr. Arif how can say muslim community would be there to protect the thieves!!!???
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