A senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader said that there is no better date to start initiating the Ram Janmabhoomi temple other than Ram Navmi. "There can be no better date for initiating the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. The three month deadline for setting up a trust ends in February and by then, all preparations would be completed. However, we will discuss with the government before we commit on the date," he said.
The pre-construction work is likely to commence from Makar Sankranti in January. The VHP wants the temple to be as per the design prepared by architect Chandrakant Sompura in 1989. A model of the temple is kept at Karsevakpuram in Ayodhya. "We expect the new temple to be built accordingly," said VHP Working President Alok Kumar.
He also said that work on the temple, including carving stones and building pillars, has progressed and those should be used in the construction. According to the VHP, 125,000 cubic feet of stone has been carved and 175,000 cubic feet of sandstone will be required for the full construction.
The VHP also plans to soon hold a meeting of the 'Margdarshak Mandal' who will draw the modalities of the construction as well as gather funds. As per sources, the construction would need four years to complete
Kumar said they are expecting that while setting up the Supreme Court mandated trust, the government will incorporate members of the existing Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, who had been looking after preparations for temple construction so far. “Once the trust is formed, which has to be done within three months, temple construction will start immediately,” a senior functionary, privy to the developments, said.
While Adityanath will be in the forefront of overseeing construction work as chief minister, he was a frequent visitor to Ayodhya after taking over. Yogi visited the holy town 18 times in two-and-half years. His last visit was to celebrate “Deepotsava” on the occasion of Diwali, which has been celebrated in a grand way since he took over as CM.
