VHP speeds up stone carving for construction of Ram temple

LUCKNOW : The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has expedited stone carving work at its Ramsewakpuram workshop in Ayodhya for constructing the Ram temple.

The move comes at a time when the state government is all set for a grand Diwali celebration in Ayodhya on Wednesday.

Three truckloads of stones were unloaded at Ramsewakpuram on Saturday and Sunday.

The stones were transported from quarries at Bharatpur in Rajasthan. Volunteers deputed by the VHP supervised the transportation.

Sharad Sharma, a VHP leader, told Hindustan Times that 27 trucks of stone have been unloaded since September.

He admitted that the administration had disrupted the supply of stones to the Ramsewakpuram workshop during the Samajwadi Party regime

He also said a Dharm Sansad scheduled at Udupi in Karnataka on November 24-26 will discuss construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Prominent saints, members of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas will deliberate on plans to expedite the construction of the temple.

The VHP has hired 12 artisans for carving stones and construction of pillars.

“We will urge the saints to expedite the stone carving work and increase the strength of the craftsmen. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad will hire artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat who are expert stone carvers,” Sharma said.

A senior VHP leader said the Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board’s support had given a boost to the demand for a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi’s decision to offer land for a 100metre high statue of Lord Ram on the bank of the River Saryu had strengthened hope of both groups joining hands for construction of the temple, he said.