AYODHYA: Nov24: Authorities will launch a major security operation at the ruins of a 16th-century mosque in Ayodhya on Sunday when tens of thousands of Hindu monks and religious leaders gather to urge the government to build a new Hindu temple on the disputed site.
“More than 200,000 people will attend,” said Surendra Jain, All India Joint General Secretary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, a Hindu nationalist organisation, which is holding a ‘dharma sabha’ or religious congregation in Ayodhya.
“We assure everyone, though we don’t need to, that not even a twig will be disturbed.”
Ahead of a general election that must be held by May next year, leaders from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its associates have become more vocal in their demand the government introduce legislation paving the way for a new Hindu temple on the site.
Authorities hope Sunday’s religious gathering does not further inflame tensions between Hindus and Muslims.
