Ayodhya: Excavation work at the disputed site in Ayodhya to ascertain whether a
temple existed beneath the demolished structure continued for the second day on
March 13, even as scores of 'sangh parivar' activists shouted pro-temple slogans at
the complex.
The excavation by an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team, as per the orders of
the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, began at 10.00 am (IST) in the
presence of counsel and nominees of the contesting parties, though prominent persons
Zafaryab Jilani of the Sunni Central Waqf Board and Champat Rai of Vishwa Hindu
Parishad (VHP), who were present on March 12, were conspicuous by their absence on
March 13 morning.
Meanwhile, scores of Rashtriya Svayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and VHP activists, mostly
from Sultanpur district, descended at the RJN complex shouting slogans such
as "mandir vahin banayenge" (we will construct temple at the disputed site). They
later went inside and had darshan of Ram Lalla.
Additional companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and PSC have been
deployed in the temple town to prevent any untoward incident, particularly in view
of Muharram on March 15.
PTI
