Now, VHP Demands Sweater, Heater for Ram Lala at the Disputed Ayodhya Site

Lucknow: Twenty five years after demolition of Babri mosque and setting up of a make shift temple of Ram lala Virajman at the disputed site in Ayodhya, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) might just be moving ahead to give broader public sanctity to it.

For the first time an official petition has been made to the Receiver, who is Commissioner of the Faizabad division, requesting him to order woolen clothes, blower or a room heater for 'Ram Lala', to keep the deity warm from the prevalent cold wave.

The point that VHP never officially came ahead with a such a request during previous governments and it is only now during Yogi rule that such a petition has been made, is reason strong enough to raise concerns on the Muslim side in the case.

It raises the question is this an attempt to give further credibility to existence of Ram Lala at the disputed site, even while the title suit over the place is being heard by the Supreme Court?

VHP's national spokesperson, Sharad Sharma, says: "Temple already exists there. There is no doubt over that. According to Hindu religious rituals, once the statue of a deity has been established following the Pran Pratishta it is treated as a human being. Ram Lala is a child and therefore the deity needs care like a child. Winter clothing is part of it."

Mahant Satyendra Das, the chief priest of Ram Lala, supports the demand. He says: 'Deities across temples are treated in similar way. attention is paid to their food, rest and clothing. Demand of amenities for 'Ram Lala' is justified since temple exists there and deity is worshiped."

The UP chief minister has not been shy of his commitment for the Ram temple. As a chief minister he has already visited and worshiped twice at the Ram Lala Virajman temple.

Muslim petitioner in the case Haji Mehboob is, therefore, concerned about VHP's latest move. He says, "Never before such a demand has been made. The matter is sub-judice and no change or additions can be done at the disputed site." He said that they will take up the matter with Commissioner/receiver.

Meanwhile, interacting with media in Faizabad, Commissioner Manoj Mishra said: "Petition has been made to me. Since the matter is in Supreme Court, further decisions will taken entirely under the rules and guidelines of the apex court." (Get detailed and live results of each and every seat of the state Assemblies in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram to know which candidate/party is leading or trailing and to know who has won and who has lost and by what margin. Our one-of-its-kind Election Analytics Centre lets you put on the psephologist's hat. Know interesting facts and trivia about the elections. Elections = News18)