The Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday had a hard time managing a sea of devotees who thronged the gates of the Ram Mandir complex in Ayodhya, jostling to enter the temple that opened to the public, a day after the consecration of the new Ram Lalla idol. A landmark event was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who also gave a clarion call to go beyond the grand mandir's construction to build the foundation of a "strong, capable and divine" India of the next 1,000 years.
If reports are to be believed, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is upset with the administration and the police who have been unable to manage the crowd. For some hours, security personnel drawn from police and paramilitary forces had a tough time controlling the crowd of devotees, many of whom had been queuing up since late Monday night. While many senior police officials are inside the Ram Temple to manage the crowd, the CM himself conducted an aerial survey.
3 lakh devotees take darshan
According to reports, around 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh devotees have taken the darshan of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on Tuesday. A similar number of devotees are awaiting darshan, and the local administration is making all the arrangements to provide continuous darshan to the devotees. While more than 8000 security personnel are deployed to ensure smooth darshan to devotees, UP Principal Secretary Home Sanjay Prasad and Special DG Law and Order Prashant Kumar are present inside the Ram temple to monitor the situation. SSP (Ayodhya), Ayodhya Divisional Commissioner and all other senior officers are alsopresent in the sanctum sanctorum or 'Garbha Griha' for better arrangements.
'Don't rush'
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya appealed Ram Bhakts 'not to rush'. "...Now when Ram Lalla has returned to his birthplace, we are filled with pride...A sea of Ram Bhakts has been flowing into Ayodhya, I appeal to them - Ram Lalla will be at his birthplace for eternity. His 'vanvaas' has concluded. So don't rush. Everyone is welcome to have a 'darshan'. All possible arrangements have been made. I appeal to all of them, have the darshan and come to Ayodhya with patience by gathering information about the crowd that is turning up here..," he said.
