UP govt has initiated steps to beef up security around the temple complex
LUCKNOW: While the Centre has gone to the Supreme Court with a proposal to bullet-proof the makeshift Ramlala Temple at Ayodhya, the state government is planning to acquire land near the disputed complex apparently to beef up security arrangements.
Four houses in the Ahirana locality of Ramkot have been marked for eviction. Interestingly, these houses are slated to be evacuated on Wednesday which marks the anniversary of the abortive terrorist attack on the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid complex. All five terrorists were gunned down by security personnel.
The government, however, seems to be shrouding its latest move. The Faizabad chief development officer (CDO), Gauri Shankar Priyadarshitold DNA that the houses were being vacated as they are in “illegal occupancy”. Faizabad ADM Narendra Patel said they were being handed over to the tourism department to which the land belongs.
However, tourism department officials have confirmed to DNA that they had never asked for any land near the disputed complex. A senior district official told DNA that the houses were indeed being evacuated under a new security plan under which double barricading is being done around the disputed complex.
Additional DG (Law and Order), Padman Singh, told DNA on Tuesday that more watch towers, upgraded fencing and barricading were needed around the makeshift temple to make the security foolproof. He revealed that the bullet-proofing proposal had been discussed at the highest levels immediately after the last year’s terrorist attack.
But it is interesting to note that both the Centre and the state governments have woken up to the “heightened threat perception” only now that the elections in UP are well in sight. The move is likely to spark off a political squabble.
State BJP president, Kesrinath Tripathi, told DNA: “Unki neeyat mein khot hai aur unke dimaag mein vote hai (Their intentions are not honourable and they are only eyeing the Hindu vote bank).” He said though the BJP would support any move for better security of the makeshift temple, “all this is being done in view of the coming elections in UP”.
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