Bhagwat says Ram Mandir construction in 4-months; protesters demand date
On Friday, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat warned the government that work on the Ram Mandir would begin in four months if no concrete steps were taken to commence the construction of the temple. Bhagwat's comments came at the Dharm Sansad organized by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) at Prayagraj. However, protesters demanded a date. Here's what went down.
Speaking at the conclave, Bhagwat said that the issue of the Ram Mandir had only been used for vote garnering thus far, and it was time that concrete action was taken towards the construction of the temple. He said that in the absence of action, devotees would begin construction anyway in four months time. However, angry protesters interrupted his speech, demanding a date.
#WATCH: Ruckus ensued after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's speech at the Dharm Sansad called by VHP in Prayagraj, protesters were demanding early construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. pic.twitter.com/IGnOxThHuq
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 1, 2019
Bhagwat's comments come just days after top Hindu seer Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati warned of similar action. On Wednesday, speaking at the same venue, Saraswati had declared that Hindu seers would march on the disputed Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir site on February 21 to lay the foundation stone of the temple. He said that devotees would not wait any further.
The comments come at a time when the Ram Mandir hearing has been postponed multiple times. At present, it is unclear when the Supreme Court will hear the title dispute case. Meanwhile, the BJP government at the Center has urged the apex court to allow it to return the "non-disputed" land surrounding the disputed site to a Hindu trust and other original owners.
While the Supreme Court was slated to hear the title dispute case on January 10, the hearing had to be adjourned after Justice UU Lalit recused himself from it. Subsequently, the five-judge bench was reconstituted and the hearing was scheduled for January 29. However, that too was adjourned after Justice Bobde was unavailable due to medical reasons.
"I want to say that the court should give its verdict soon, and if it is unable to do so, it should hand over the issue to us. We will resolve the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute within 24 hours. We won't take 25 hours," Yogi Adityanath had said on January 26.
