Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav will face a tough test of his administrative skills on October 17, when a defiant VHP keeps its date with its ‘‘mass awareness programme’’ in Ayodhya.Aware of the heightened sense of expectation from his administration, Mulayam has already swung into action. He enforced prohibitory orders yesterday against Shiv Sainik activists in the twin towns of Faizabad and Ayodhya and, arrested several dozens of them when they disobeyed the orders.Mulayam has also thrown an elaborate security net in and around Ayodhya and Faizabad and has deployed enforcement agencies like the CRPF, RAF and the PAC.In a week’s time, thousands of kar sevaks will begin to assemble in the temple town to demand for a central legislation to build the Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. Mulayam will have to ensure yet again that there is no untoward incident and that the kar sevaks adhere to the high court and Supreme Court orders.Both courts have directed that there will be no religious activity or construction at the disputed site and that status-quo will have to be strictly maintained.VHP officials say that the Virat Shakti Pradarshan is only a peaceful gathering to voice their demands. ‘‘We will have a rally in Delhi and Lucknow and then march to Ayodhya for a public meeting to press for a legislation. Where is the question of unlawful activity? After the meeting, kar sevaks are free to go for darshan to the Ram Lala idol installed at the site,’’ says VHP president Vishnu Hari Dalmia.Dalmia is not perturbed by Mulayam’s former image of being called ‘‘Maulana Mulayam,’’ coined by the VHP itself, after he fired at kar sevaks who broke the law during his first stint as chief minister in 1990. ‘‘Mulayam has learnt his lesson,’’ says Dalmia, adding ‘‘he lost his government soon after the elections. Anyway, there was a disputed structure at the time and it was brought down by a mob, you cannot expect construction to be done by a mob?’’
