Prayagraj (Allahabad): Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati on Wednesday said that the foundation stone for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya would begin on February 21, even if those gathering there have to face bullets.
The ‘Shilanyas’ of Ram Temple was announced at the end of a three-day religious congregation at the ongoing Kumbh Mela at Sangam in Prayag.
Notably, the announcement comes a day after the BJP-led Central Government filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking permission to transfer “excess” land adjacent to the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site to its original owners.
Swaroopanand Saraswati, who is the Shankaracharya of Dwarka Peeth, urged Hindus to reach Ayodhya carrying four bricks each. The planned ceremony is being called ‘ishtika nyas’, or the laying of bricks.
The Shankaracharya said the sadhus will begin their march to Ayodhya from Allahabad (Prayagraj) after Basant Panchami, which falls on February 10. He also criticised the BJP-led Central Government for not doing enough for the construction of the temple, even though it has an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha.
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Ms Kalinga