Mellowed Mulayam thanks Centre as he calms Ayodhya

In Lucknow, a pleased Mulayam Singh Yadav said his government had cleared the agni pariksha (trial by fire). Praising the Centre for its help and cooperation, the Chief Minister said: ‘‘By extending help, the Centre has maintained the true tradition of the federal structure of the country.’’

With low local participation in Ayodhya, the police concentrated on Ramsevakpuram where VHP’s Ashok Singhal, clad in saffron from head to toe, showed up with 700 kar sevaks. Resisting arrest, the kar sevaks pelted stones but the police stuck to the drill: a lathicharge, five rounds of rubber bullets and teargas to snuff out resistance. Many of the kar sevaks had made it on foot to Ayodhya, following the rail tracks from adjoining Faizabad. But they were outnumbered by security forces who seemed to be everywhere. This is what happened today:

• Shortly after 7 am, some 1,000 kar sevaks arrived in Faizabad on board the Sealdah-Jammu Tawi Express. Chanting slogans, many kar sevaks began walking along the rail tracks to Ayodhya. Withing minutes, security forces landed at the station. Separating the women from the crowd, they split the kar sevaks into batches of 70 while a police officer assured them they would be allowed darshan at the disputed site.

• Near Hanuman Garhi, on the road leading to the disputed site, some 100 kar sevaks showed up, holding posters and chanting slogans. They were surrounded by security forces who brought in state transport buses to pack off the kar sevaks.

• No kar sevak was allowed to approach the Saryu riverside, the main meeting point for kar sevaks in 1990 and 1992. It’s mandatory for kar sevaks to take a dip in the Saryu before the darshan.

• Normal vehicle movement between Faizabad and Ayodhya was stopped to clear the way for smooth movement of security forces. State transport buses carried away the arrested kar sevaks.

• IG V K Rai and his men kept the temple movement leaders in good humour. Together with his officers, Rai met Mahant Nitya Gopal Das and sought his blessings this morning. His men also handled Singhal very well: after arresting him, they let him sulk though they did offer to fly him to Lucknow since he wasn’t feeling well. Singhal was released in the evening.

BJP leaders too stayed away but local MLA Lallu Singh was seen with Singhal. UP BJP chief Vinay Katyar, who was in Ayodhya on Thursday, did not accompany Singhal. Even Nritya Gopal Das, chief of the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas, did not step out.