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Ayodhya: An uneasy calm prevails in this temple town ahead of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) sponsored "Mass Awareness Campaign" on October 17 to press for construction of Ram temple even as the state government tightened security to prevent gathering of kar sevaks.

With the VHP remaining defiant on its programme, a showdown between it and the administration could not be ruled out, official sources said in Ayodhya on October 11.

"Our programme stands," VHP media in-charge Sharad Sharma told reporters warning that any attempt to crack down on peaceful Ram bhakts "may charge the atmosphere".

The programme would be peaceful but the situation could change if the administration tried to act "tough", he said.

"The administration should in fact co-operate with us so that the programme passes of peacefully," Sharma said.

Asked whether the VHP would respect the Allahabad High Court directives to the state government to maintain status quo at the disputed site, he said the court order pertained to the acquired land.

Sharma said Shiv Sena activists, who were arrested in the district in view of their proposed meeting, were also "Ram bhakts" and the crackdown on them was unjustified.

PTI