LUCKNOW: In a major development, remains of ancient temples, pillar, idols of deities and a Shivlinga have been spotted at Ram Janma Bhoomi (RJB) temple site in Ayodhya where the work of levelling the land meant for construction of proposed Ram temple is underway.
A five-foot Shivlinga, seven pillars of black touchstone, six pillars of red sandstone, structrues of flowers and broken idols of deities were found at the site, said general secretary of Shree Ramjanma Bhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust and senior VHP leader Champat Rai while making the development public on Thursday.
However, prominent lawyer and convenor of Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) contested the claim of the temple Trust General Secretary Champat Rai. Jilani, who had represented the Muslim side in the litigation related to the vexed Ayodhya issue in Supreme Court, said that it was not necessary that the remains found at the site were related to some temple. “The pillars found there could be of the mosque demolished in 1992,” he maintained.
Moreover, Jilani dubbed the claims of remains found at the Ram Janmabhoomi site as a political gimmick by the trust office bearers to influence the upcoming Delhi, Bihar and UP elections.
Earlier, Champat Rai had claimed that the work of levelling the land at Ramjanmbhoomi premises had been going on since May 11 after the restrictions on construction activities were lifted. “On removing the debris from the site during the land levelling activity, pillars and other structures of ancient temples were discovered,” said Rai. He added that on digging the land further, the five-foot long ‘Shivlinga’ was spotted.
Even Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust tweeted: “The work started on May 11, 2020. Since then many objects of archaeological importance like flowers made of stone, Kalash, Aamalak, Dorjamb, have been discovered during excavation.” According to office bearers of Ramjanmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, the metal barricades erected around the makeshift temple and the CRPF camp at the site
were already removed and levelling of the site was being done with the help of three JCBs, one crane, two tractors and 10 labourers.
However, the director, state archaeological department, AK Singh refused to comment on the emergence of remains. He said that he had come to know about the findings through media reports and was not in a position to comment on the authenticity of the artefacts unless he saw them himself. The officer claimed that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the state Archaeological department would take cognizance of the findings and take them over to study their origin and age.
The archaeological remains found assume significance as they substantiate the claims of the presence of temple on that site which was a bone of contention for decades and was later resolved by the Supreme Court of the country on November 9, 2019.
Even the ASI findings had also established that there were remains of an ancient temple beneath the site where the disputed structure -- Babri Masjid -- was erected.
Meanwhile, in the temple town, the work of stone carving for temple has been suspended for the time being. “The old stones are being cleaned up for fixing in the proposed temple,” said a local VHP leader.