Restive Ram devotees at Kumbh may create trouble

There might be an attempt to mobilise devotees to move towards Ayodhya.

Hindu organisations and the Sant community are worried over the likelihood of fringe elements ensuring the flaring up of sentiments among devotees vis-à-vis Ram temple issue during the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, starting from 15 January. The Mela will continue till 4 March.

According to sources, these organisations fear that the devotees are gradually becoming restive in the wake of delay in delivery of judgement in the Ram Janmabhoomi-babri Masjid title suit by the Supreme Court and these sentiments may become difficult to control. They said that it may be a big challenge for the organisers as well as the Uttar Pradesh state machinery to ensure a smooth conduct of the Mela.

The sources said the concern is based on certain statements by some Sadhus and Sants which were aired on TV channels, and also during private conversations, that there might be an attempt by a few elements to mobilise devotees to move towards Ayodhya, which is hardly 165 km away from Prayagraj.

Recalling the fateful day of 6 December 1992 when a big crowd demolished the disputed structure in Ayodhya, these sources claimed that incident was unplanned and spontaneous. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which is spearheading the movement to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya, has convened a high-level meeting of its Central Board of Trustees at Prayagraj on 17 January to take stock of the situation and discuss its future course of action in the wake of the apex court adjourning the hearing to 29 January. A ‘Dharma Sansad’ has also been convened at the Kumbh Mela site on 31 January to 1 February where a final decision will be taken on the course to be adopted. It is expected to be attended by about 2,500 Sadhus and Sants coming from all over the country. “Hindu society is very tolerant. They have always shown patience. But in the Ayodhya case, their patience has been tested too much. There has been strong public sentiment in favour of Ram temple which has persistently been ignored by the governments, politicians and the judiciary. One should not undermine these sentiments, which may turn explosive,” VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said while speaking to The Sunday Guardian. The VHP, which has been mobilising public support over the issue, has reacted sharply over the SC deferring the case yet again. “Our apprehensions that the opposite party shall raise any frivolous issues to secure an adjournment have come true. The objection is apparently frivolous; for it is settled that the Chief Justice is the Master of Roster. He alone decides the strength of a Bench and the judges to sit in it,” said VHP working president Alok Kumar, who himself is an eminent lawyer.

“The other objection on Justice U.U. Lalit being on the Bench is painful. Justice Lalit has never appeared in the Ram Janmabhoomi matters. The objection by two members of Muslim Personal Law Board about the absence of any Muslim judge on the Bench is also equally disturbing. It would be a very sad day when the judges would be assigned to hear matters on the basis of their religion,” Kumar rued. “The objections were merely ploys to delay the case further,” he added. Fresh snowfall in Kashmir valley on Friday has shown that snow is going to stay on the mountains and in the plains as the 40-daylong ‘Chillai Kalan’, as the harsh spell of winter is locally known, will end on 31 January. Cold wave is already taking its toll on the Valley people, especially in Ladakh region, as sub-zero conditions have resulted in water shortage. On Friday, reports of mild earthquake has shaken the people of the area as they feel that more such jolts can bring down houses and other dwellings to ground.