Lucknow: In an obvious attempt to revive memories of the Ram temple movement, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad is planning to observe the 25th anniversary of firing on karsevaks in Ayodhya in a big way.
A programme will be held at Karsevakpuram, VHP’s local headquarters in Ayodhya, to recall the services and sacrifices made by the ‘martyrs’ of the Ram Temple Movement. The convenor of the programme is Purnima Kothari, the sister of Ram and Sharad Kothari who were among those killed in police firing.
On November 2, 1992, police had fired on volunteers who had assembled near the disputed structure to perform a symbolic kar seva for the construction of the Ram temple. Later, VHP claimed that 16 people, including Kothari brothers from Kolkata, died in the firing.
The VHP also took out ‘Asthi Kalash Yatras’ with urns carrying the ashes of those martyred in the firing and vowed to intensify the movement for Ram temple. Those expected to attend the event are leaders who had played a key role in the temple movement including Union ministers Uma Bharati and Manoj Sinha, BJP MPs Vinay Katiyar and Yogi Adityanath, VHP leaders Ashok Singhal, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and Acharya Dharmendra.
Purnima Kothari, who is the president of Kolkata-based ‘Kothari Bandhu Sewa Trust’ established in the memory of her two brothers, said all the guests have confirmed their arrival on the day. The event, incidentally, will definitely embarrass the BJP which is in power at the Centre because the party has been trying to put the temple issue on the backburner.
