With questions being raised over the timing of Dharma Sabha being held in Ayodhya on November 25, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has decided to mask the event as non-political by asking BJP leaders not to share the dais with seers.
A senior RSS leader told ‘The Pioneer’ in Lucknow on Wednesday that BJP leaders had been asked to stay away from the limelight. “The focus will be on saints, not elected members of the ruling party. The law-makers have been conveyed this message in a categorical term,” he said.
Posters exhorting people to attend the congregation at Ayodhya and across the state also do not have pictures of BJP leaders. “The law-makers have been asked to generate resources and mobilise people for Dharma Sabha but they will sit with Ram bhakts. The main dais will have saints at prominent places,” he said.
This strategy was chalked out with a design to blunt Opposition barbs of the BJP making Ram temple a political issue. The saffron brigade wants to keep the focus on saints and sadhus even as the BJP is extending all support to the VHP’s function. Even the RSS, who is the brain behind the show, has taken a backseat.
As per the programme, two stages will be set up for the programme. The main and bigger stage will be for sadhus and the second one for VIPs. On the second stage, law-makers will be accommodated. Over 500 sadhus and seers are likely to participate in the congregation.
VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma said that preparations were going on in full swing. “We are expecting around 2 lakh Ram bhakts on November 25. The initial report is very encouraging. During regular melas held in Ayodhya recently, over 14 lakh pamphlets, urging people to come to Ayodhya, were distributed. Besides, every gram sabha has been sent invitations in the form of turmeric rice. So we are expecting a good turnout,” he said
Sharma said that the district administration would make arrangements for the parking of over 500 buses, 1000 four-wheelers and 2000 two-wheelers. “We expect Ram bhakts to reach Ayodhya by Saturday. All local temples and mutts have opened their doors for Ram bhakts and provide free accommodation and fooding,” Sharma said.