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.
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva asked ASG Sanjay Jain to produce the relevant records/materials which were relied upon by the Centre with regard to the ban.
Comments
9/11 caused more Americans to embrace Islam.
The same thing happens here, more Truth Loving people start researching the speech of Zakir Naik and will easily embracing Islam.
Indians are more free and intelligent in deciding.
Unfortunately the RSS lead govt can detain him under pretext of so called all allegation, even without proof.
We have some blind law where innocent people become easy prey.
Such law is made to target the people who talks truth against the corrupt leaders.
Laks...Karkala.....
Every one knows you hypocrites are experts in fabricating proofs and give clean chit to criminals ...... Indians can eat indian cow meat in Gulf BUT not in India.... Go to Google and find out the names of Indians in the list of TOP CRIMINALS of the world ....Hypocrite ....
Laks, Karkala
From your frustrated comments i can understand that you are so far from the reality. Not a single proof can indian govt can show against Dr.Zakir naik. Even nobody can have the guts to have debate with zakir naik. so will wait and watch.
Laks, Zakir Naik did not trouble anyone...when he was preaching around everyone lived very happily here in India....He conveyed peace message to everyone...
Dear Altaf,
Dont teach us what to ban...Our present government have enough proof to put him behind the bar...and your lawyer is der to protect him..so leave it to court
Sitting in Doha its easy for you to comment
Basically it is not the matter of scare. In the recent years we have noticed that the Muslims are targeted & put behind bars without any evidence.
Later it is proved that the RSS goons are involved in the terror activity across the country. But they are not booked in any case.
These types of double standard Judicial System makes the Muslims to be away for certain period. I hope very soon Br. Zakir Naik we get justice & start spreading the peace message.
Mr. Zakir Naik's Preaching, Knowledge and popularity not gone well with sick minds, they cannot counter him through dialogue; obviously misuse of power is the solution!!!
Laks, Karkala
If you really wish to see that everyone in india should leave happily then you have to think about banning RSS and sangh parivar. Zakir naik never done anything so that hindus and muslim divide. He always tried to unite all religion. I think you have not listened to any of his speeches. My sincere request with you is to first listen his all complete speeches. Then come to conclusion.
Please watch the below videos. It is available in Youtube
1.Similarities between Hinduism and Islam
2.Similarities between Islam and Christianity
3.Does God Exits
4.Is terrorism a muslim monopoly
Hope after watching the above you can change your thinking from negative to positive .
Over all this is a political game with the backing of rss communal group.
Started to target peace loving INDIANS and Mr. ZN is on top of their list.
There is many more to come from religious leader to business man;social worker; leading person etc.
Instead of 5 years high court need to ban for life time... so that everyone can leave happily in India
ZN is scared..he will not come back to india.. if he was Innocent he could have came back long back ago...
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