Muslim Rashtriya Manch campaigns for Ram Mandir

Amid the Ayodhya hearing in the Supreme Court, the Sangh Parivar-affiliated Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) has launched a campaign to reach out to Muslims calling for a temple for Lord Ram to be built at the disputed site where the Babri masjid once stood.

After a mediation process initiated by it failed, the top court has ordered a day-to-day hearing of the case. A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi is hearing a bunch of petitions challenging a 2010 judgment of the Allahabad High Court that partitioned the 2.77-acre land equally between the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

Mir Baqi, a general of Mughal emperor Babar, is said to have destroyed a temple of Lord Ram, at what is venerated as his birthplace, in 1528, to construct the Babri masjid, which was pulled down in 1992.

"After the triple talaq ban, we are focussing on the Ram Janmabhoomi... it will culminate with the construction of the Ram Temple at the site," said MRM national convenor Muhammed Afzal, calling the issue as one which was related to the emotions and religious beliefs of 80 crore people of the country.

The MRM launched the campaign from Dehradun on August 8. MRM has the Ram temple as one of its stated agendas for a long time. Afzal said even as the SC is hearing the issue, they are working on shaping opinions of Muslims for the construction of the Ram temple. "There are some powers in the country who want to spoil the atmosphere. We are serving humanity by creating awareness on the ground among Muslims."

The MRM is the only niche organisation for Muslims in the Sangh Parivar, and has senior Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh functionary Indresh Kumar, as the patron.

"The construction of the Ram temple on Ram Janmabhoomi must be done with the help of the Muslim community," Afzal said, ruing that the SC's attempt to ensure a negotiated settlement had failed.

The MRM functionary said namaz was being said in at least 22 mosques in the temple town and added that Ayodhya also had the mazars (shrines) of Hazrat Nuh (Noah) and Hazrat Shees who are regarded as the messengers of God.

"Thus, Ayodhya is venerated by all religions. However, over 70 years after Independence, Lord Ram has been forced to stay in a tent (at the site)," said Afzal, adding that poet Allama Iqbal had also called Ram 'Imam-e-Hind'. He added that "Babur was not a servant of God, but a foreign invader, who killed anyone, be it Hindu or Muslim, who stood in his way."

Afzal added, "Neither Babur nor the Babri was a symbol of faith for us. Our loyalty lies only with Allah. Ram and the Ram temple are symbols of faith (for Hindus)."