Temple work should begin in March: VHP

NEW DELHI: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has urged the Centre to expedite the formation of the trust that will monitor the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya so that the construction work can begin on March 25, to coincide with the Hindu festival of Navratra.

It has also urged people to organise shobha yatras on April 2, on the occasion of Ram Navami, to celebrate the Supreme Court verdict that paved the way for the construction of the temple after a protracted legal battle.

While pronouncing the Ramjanamabhoomi verdict on November 9, the Supreme Court had said that the disputed 2.7 acres of land be handed over to a trust formed by the home ministry to monitor the construction. The Centre was duty-bound to announce the trust within three months of the judgment.

On Wednesday, VHP’S international working president Alok Kumar said the organisation that was at the forefront of the movement has made a request to the government to announce the composition of the trust in January itself. “We have requested that the construction work should coincide with the Navrataras and that the government should include those saints and leaders who were part of the movement in the trust,” he said.

He said the VHP has not named any individual or organisation in their request to the government; but reiterated that those led the movement should not be left out. The court had said the trust should include representatives of the central and state governments and the Nirmohi Akhara.