Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)
Udupi, Nov 24: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists, religious leaders and monks who assembled here, have urged the central government to pave way for the construction of temple dedicated to Lord Ram at Ayodhya within a year by promulgating an ordinance towards this end. They said in unison that Ram Mandir construction is an issue that is nationalistic and apolitical in nature. They demanded for the construction of Ram Mandir although there may be some people opposed to it.
A preliminary meeting connected with the 'Janagraha Sabhe' being held in the city on December 2 urging the central government to move a bill to facilitate construction of Ram Mandir was held at the office at New Yatri Nivas here on Friday November 23. Addressing the participants, Pejawar Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji, noted that Lord Ram, Krishna, and Shiva are the three most revered gods of the county. He said that devotion and reverence the populace feels for these gods should remain and towards this end, the temple dedicated to Lord Ram at Ayodhya which will be a memorial for the Lord, should be built at any cost without further delay.
He recollected that most of the Swamijis heading the eight Maths here, like his Guru, Sri Vidyamanyateertha Swamiji, Sri Vibhudeshateertha, Sri Vidyabhushanateertha, Sri Vishwapriyateertha, and Bhandarakeri Swamiji had taken part in the symbolic Kar Seva organized for the construction of this temple at Ayodhya in 1992. He said that it was decided to keep the programme symbolic but the devotees suddenly ran amok, and attacked the building without listening to repeated pleas against doing so by himself and other leaders. He lamented the fact that he could not keep the promise as his efforts failed.
He remembered that after their arrest, they were kept in a school at Farokabad in the company of the late Vishwabhushanateertha and Vidyaprasannateertha Swamiji. A few were killed later, and arrests were also made from Prayag and from near Ayodhya. Thereafter, the then President, Venkataraman, provided opportunity for other devotees to visit Ayodhya, he stated.
Pejawar Swamiji said that there are undisputed proofs about the fact that temple dedicated to Lord Ram stood there in the past. He claimed that the new idol was installed there by himself. He urged the Modi-led central government to issue an ordinance. If this is not possible, he felt that the needful can be got done by holding joint meeting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Swamiji expressed the faith that even Muslims will support construction of Ram temple. He felt hat this is the right time for Modi to take bold decisions.
Senior BJP leader, Somashekhara Bhat, said that the incident which happened on December 6, 1992, was memorable. He said he was among those who were kept under arrest for three days. He remembered that about 400 people from the city and a thousand from Dakshina Kannada had taken part in the Kar Seva. He urged the government to pave way for the construction of a new Ram Mandir there.
On this occasion, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists who had taken part in the said Kar Seva at Ayodhya were honoured.
Bajrang Dal convener, Dinesh Mendon, Bajrang Dal leader, K R Sunil, and VHP president, Santosh Suvarja Bolje, were present in the meeting.