The meeting in New Delhi of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti (ABSS) — an umbrella organisation of over 3,000 Hindu monks and ascetics from 127 sects — on Sunday passed a resolution demanding that the government bring in a law or an ordinance for the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
A statement issued by the ABSS, considered close to the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, said three large rallies would be held in Ayodhya, Nagpur and Bengaluru on November 25, culminating in a fourth in New Delhi on December 9 in support of a new law. “After this, meetings will be held in over 500 districts across the country,” the statement said.
”On Diwali this year, faithful devotees of Shri Ram should light lamps for the successful construction of a Ram Temple,” said the statement.
“On Diwali this year, faithful devotees of Shri Ram should light lamps for the successful construction of a Ram Temple,” said the statement.
Among those who spoke at the two-day meeting was former Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ram Vilas Vedanti, Sri Sri Ravishankar of the Art of Living foundation, Shankaracharya Vasudevanand Saraswati, Ramanandacharya Hans- devacharya Maharaj of the Shri Jagannath Dham Ashram and Avichaldas Maharaj of the Kaival Gyanpith.
Endorses govt.
The statement endorsed the work of the Narendra Modi government over the issues of Dharma, culture, national security and self respect, while at the same time saying that the monks are “upset” over the obstacles in the way of construction of a Ram Temple.
“Our expectations are with this government only and we feel that it is this government that will fulfil our wishes,” said the statement.
In a strong political undertone, ABSS statement called for voting-in a government that fulfils ideological goals like Ganga (cleaning of the river) and promotion of the Gita, Gayatri, and those who believe in “Govind”.
NOTA not an option
“We feel that None Of The Above (NOTA) is an insult to democracy. Such inertia in exercising your democratic rights is dangerous to its health. Therefore, do vote in a positive way for the leaders of your choice,” urged the statement.
The resolution made it clear that while the demand was for a Ram temple from this government, there was no major quarrel with it, reinforcing the view that it was only the Narendra Modi government that could complete the ideological agenda.
Many BJP leaders, including Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Keshav Prasad Maurya supported the call for a Ram temple.
Minister of State for Law P.P. Choudhary said that while the Ram temple case was being heard in court, his “personal opinion” was that “in case there is a judicial delay then a law can be made”.
‘Replicate NRC’
The ABSS resolution also demanded that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise, currently underway in Assam, be replicated across the country, with 1947 as a cut off date.
However, the issue of holding an NRC exercise in other States is tricky.
Tripura Chief Minister and BJP leader Biplab Deb has already declared that there was no need for one in his State, which also has a large population of Bengali speaking people.
Published - November 04, 2018 11:16 pm IST
