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Controversy has not impeded work
on temple support structures

According to Vishwa Hindu Parishad sources, work at the workshops of the 'Sri Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas', established in September 1990, had not been disturbed even during the regime of the parties raising the issue now.

Around 40 per cent of the stones for the temple had been carved in the three workshops in Ayodhya and the three in Pindwara, Rajasthan, the sources said.

After the mosque was pulled down by a frenzied mob, Uttar Pradesh has seen two chief ministers opposed to construction of the Ram temple, but the workshops continued to function.

The issue was raised in Parliament in 1998 following the visit of a delegation comprising secular parties to the workshop. The delegation was led by Communist Party of India-Marxist Member of Parliament Somnath Chatterjee. They had later met the President in this regard.

According to the sources, the workshop is closed only on no moon days and on Vishwakarma puja day. In extraordinary situations, it had to be closed down only on two other occasions, they claimed.

The workshops were allowed to function during the prime ministership of P V Narasimha Rao, V P Singh, Chandrashekhar, H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral. Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati too looked the other way when they were in power.

The temple, proposed to be constructed in the naagar style, will be 128 feet high, 268' 5" long and 140 feet in breadth and consist of two floors and 212 pillars.

According to the sources, around 170 beams are to be used in the temple. The floor of the temple and 80 pillars were ready, they said.

Girish, caretaker of a workshop, said that as many as 76 workers were working day and night to complete the work. Housing facility for these workers had also been provided.

UNI

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