Janjivan Bureau / Ayodhya : Rebel cabinet minister in CM Yogi Aditynath’s government, BJP ally and president of the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party Om Prakash Rajbhar has demanded calling the army in view of the prevailing situation in Ayodhya.
Supporting the demand raised by Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Rajbhar has said, “Section 144 is imposed in Ayodhya, yet the administration is letting people gather there; it means they have failed. The army should be brought in,” he said.
Speaking to a news channel in Madhya Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav has asked the Supreme Court to take note of the prevailing build-up in Ayodhya and consider deploying the army to maintain peace and ensure security to people.
“The BJP does not believe in the Supreme Court or the Constitution. The BJP can go to any extent,” he pointed out.
To substantiate this, a trainload of Shiv Sainiks arrived in Ayodhya on Friday and another reserved train of Shiv Sainiks is expected any time to ensure the success of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s two-day visit to the holy city starting Saturday evening.
Thackeray’s visit and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)-proposed Dharama Sabha on Sunday have suddenly catapulted the Ram temple issue back on the national agenda ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
However, the massive mobilisation of supporters by both outfits from across the country has made a mockery of Section 144 of the CrPC promulgated in Ayodhya which prohibits an assembly of more than four people.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, during his frequent trips to Ayodhya in recent days, has queered the pitch for the construction of a Ram temple by raising the slogan of ‘Pahle mandir, phir sarkar’ (First temple, then government) .
In the process, he has successfully built conducive environment for Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s visit to the holy city.
Soon after reaching Ayodhya, Thackeray will take a ceremonial dip in the Saryu and then proceed to the ‘Aashirward’ programme at the Laxman Qila.
Here he is expected to seek the blessings of the influential saints of Ayodhya for the construction of the Ram temple.
The proposed Shiv Sena public rally is not to take place as the district administration has not given permission amid Raut’s claims that he never sought one.
The VHP expects one lakh supporters to participate in the Dharam Sabha on Sunday for which it has been holding processions across districts to mobilise supporters to arrive in Ayodhya.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Anoop Pandey, DGP OP Singh and the officials of Ayodhya district held a video-conference to discuss how to ensure the implementation of the Supreme Court order to maintain status quo in Ayodhya.
For ensuring peace and security during the next few days, Ayodhya has been converted into a virtual fortress by dividing the district into eight zones and 16 sectors and posting senior officers in each zone and sector.
The 28 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) normally posted in the district have been increased to 48. Additionally, the district administration has deployed 10 companies of central paramilitary forces.
The state government has posted two senior IPS officers to monitor security arrangements in Ayodhya in the next few days.
ADG Technical Services Ashutosh Pandey and DIG Jhansi Range Subhash Singh Baghel have been sent to Ayodhya to take charge.
While Pandey has been made in-charge of the Blue Zone, Baghel has been given charge of the Yellow Zone at the disputed Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid site.
