Seers demand change in Ram temple model
LUCKNOW: A group of seers in Ayodhya on Sunday handed over a memorandum to local BJP MLA Ved Prakash Gupta demanding a change in existing model of Ram Mandir.
The seers led by Mahant Suresh Das, head of Digambar Akhara, also discussed the issue with Gupta.
“Seers have handed over a memorandum seeking construction of Ram Mandir according to a new grand design instead of existing design,” said the MLA.
“They have requested to send the memorandum to Prime Minister and chief minister, which I will do,” he added.
Seers have also demanded that they must be consulted in the ongoing pre- Ram Mandir construction work at Ram Janmabhoomi.
However, seers ignored former MP Ram Vilas Vedanti who was instrumental in raising the issue and organising the meeting of seers on Saturday.
The seers were scheduled to meet Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, chairman of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust, to discuss the issue on Sunday.
However, before the meeting could take place, VHP leader Rajendra Singh ‘Pankaj’ intervened and met Mahant Suresh Das in the morning and this controlled the situation to some extent.
“Meeting between Singh and Das was crucial. It was after this meeting that seers were pacified and decided to not raise the issue before Mahant Nritya Gopal Das,” said a senior VHP leader not willing to be quoted.
“Ram Vilas Vedanti, who had played a major role in raising the issue of changing existing model of Ram Mandir, was also sidelined after this meeting,” added the VHP leader.
The VHP’s model was approved during the Ram Mandir movement in 1990s. The model is kept for public viewing at Karsevakpuram, Ayodhya.
Pre-construction activity of Ram Mandir began at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya on May 11 after the Centre allowed construction work across the country. Levelling of land on the Ram Janmabhoomi campus is going on.
Construction of Ram Mandir is expected to start after ‘bhumi pujan’ in which PM Narendra Modi and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath among others will be present.
However, no date for the event has been decided so far.