Opposition raises Ayodhya issue in Rajya Sabha, causes brief adjournment

New Delhi: Opposition Congress, SP and JD-U in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday raised the issue of stones arriving in Ayodhya from Gujarat and Rajasthan for construction of the Ram Temple, forcing a brief adjournment.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, KC Tyagi (JD-U) said the circumstances for a communally-charged atmosphere are being created ahead of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Two truck loads of stones for construction of the temple have reportedly arrived in Ayodhya earlier this week.

Such activities are being planned "only to charge up the atmosphere," he said, quoting a reported statement by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das that there was a "signal" from the Modi government that the temple will be built "now".

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said stone carving for construction of the temple has been going at a site 1.5 km away from the disputed site since 1990.

The government and the BJP are of the view that the court decision on the dispute should be accepted, he said.

There was no ban on carving of stones and the religious leaders quoted have been living in Ayodhya, he said, adding that stone carving does not mean that the temple was being built. "Please wait for court decision. All of us should respect it," he said.

But the opposition members were not satisfied by the statement and moved into the Well of the House shouting slogans like "UP Mein Dange Ki Saazish Band Karo (Stop conspiracy to incite communal violence)."

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said there was no confusion after Naqvi's statement that the government and party will go by the court verdict.

"Why do you disturb the Zero Hour? Why do you agitate? The Minister has made it clear that the government will go by the court decision. It is unnecessary. Go back," he told to the agitating members. But none heeded to his pleas, forcing him to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.