Rajya Sabha adjourned over VHP move to transport stones for Ram temple in Ayodhta

Opposition members entered the well of the House over the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's move to collectstones for construction of the temple and transporting them to the temple town in Uttar Pradesh.

Shortly after the House met Janata Dal (United) lawmaker KC Tyagi raised the issue, saying the move was aimed at creating a communally charged atmosphere in the state ahead of the elections. Opposition members entered the well of the house to protest the VHP's action, shouting "stop manufacturing riots in UP."

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi intervened on behalf of the government to say that stone carving for construction of the temple has been going at a site 1.5 km away from the disputed site since 1990.

The government and the BJP are of the view that the court decision on the dispute should be accepted, he said. There is no ban on carving of stones in Ayodhya, he said, "Please wait for court decision. All of us should respect it," he said.

Two truckloads of engraved stones from Rajasthan and Gujarat had reportedly arrived in Ayodhya on Monday flaring up tension in the city.

The VHP had given a call in June for collecting stones for construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya.