Ayodhya Ram Mandir LIVE updates: A look back at Ram Temple dispute

The Ram Mandir dispute is a long-standing and complex issue in Indian history that revolves around the construction of a temple dedicated to Lord Ram at the site in Ayodhya. The controversy has deep religious, historical, and political roots and has been a source of tension between the Hindu and Muslim communities in India. Here’s a brief look back at the key events:

Babri Masjid Construction (1528): The Babri Masjid, believed to have been built by the Mughal emperor Babur’s general Mir Baqi, was constructed in Ayodhya in 1528. The mosque became a centre of religious and political dispute centuries later.

Ram Lalla idol: On the night of December 22, 1949, idols of Lord Ram were mysteriously placed inside the Babri Masjid, which was then being used as a mosque. This event led to heightened tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities and marked the beginning of the legal disputes over the site.

Rise of Ayodhya movement (1980s): In the 1980s, the Ayodhya dispute gained prominence with the rise of the Ayodhya movement, led by various Hindu nationalist organizations and political parties, most notably the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). They asserted that the Babri Masjid was constructed on the birthplace of Lord Ram, and they demanded the construction of a Ram temple at the site.

Babri Masjid demolition (1992): On December 6, 1992, a large crowd of Hindu nationalists, including members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates, gathered at the Babri Masjid site and demolished the mosque. The demolition led to communal riots across India, resulting in significant loss of life and property.

Post-demolition legal battles: After the demolition, multiple legal cases were filed related to the ownership of the land and the criminal charges against those involved in the demolition. The legal battle continued for years.

Ayodhya verdict (2019): In November 2019, the Supreme Court of India delivered a historic verdict, allocating the disputed site to the Hindus for the construction of a Ram temple and providing an alternative five-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for the construction of a mosque.

Construction of Ram Mandir (2020s): Following the Supreme Court verdict, the construction of the Ram Mandir began at the disputed site in Ayodhya.