Stone-laden trucks arrive in Ayodhya, report sought

Lucknow: The Akhilesh government in Uttar Pradesh has sought a confidential report from the intelligence department following reports that two trucks loads of stone had arrived in Ayodhya to speed up carving work for the proposed Ram Temple.

ADG Satish Ganesh said that a confidential report from Additional Director General (Intelligence) on the activities going on in Ayodhya had been sought. “Two truckloads of stones have been unloaded at Ram Sewak Puram, a VHP property in Ayodhya, and ‘Shila Pujan’ (praying of the stones) has been performed by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the president of Ram Janam Bhumi Nyas”, VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma had said on Sunday.

Ram Janambhoomi Trustee Mahant Nritya Gopal Das had said there was a ‘signal’ from the Modi government that the temple will be built ‘now’. A senior BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, said in Lucknow that stone were being brought to Karsevakpuram on a regular basis for carving. “This time the media has kicked up a storm. This is not an unusual activity and continues round the year,” he said.