Karnataka Priest Who Fixed Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan's Time Receives Threat Calls; Security Provided

Priest Vijayendra, 75, who calculated and fixed the auspicious time to conduct bhoomi pujan for the new Ram temple in Ayodhya has been provided security at his residence in Belagavi in Karnataka after threatening phone calls.

Sources quoted in and IANS report, said that a police case was registered following threats and police deployed at the residence of the priest who lives in Shastri Nagar area in Belagavi.

A member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust said, “It is a matter of grave concern that even the priest who fixed the ‘mahurat’ is not being spared by those who do not want the temple to be constructed.”

Vijayendra told reporters that one caller asked him why he had set the date for the bhoomi pujan. “He said ‘Why are you joining it?’ I said that the organisers had requested me to give a date for bhoomi pujan and I did as asked. The caller did not reveal his name. The calls are coming from different numbers.”

However, he will not be able to attend the bhoomi pujan ceremony due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Scheduled to take place at noon on Wednesday (5 August), the bhoomi pujan is going to be attended by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath, among other religious and political leaders.

Although, the trust has decided to keep it a small scale event with not more than 200 dignitaries given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The trust has also urged to devotees across the nation to not travel to Ayodhya for the ceremony.