Govt sets up dedicated desk to look after Ayodhya issue

Taking forward its promise of building a Ram temple in Ayodhya, the government has now set up a dedicated desk, headed by an additional secretary, to look after all matters related to the Supreme Court verdict on the controversial issue.

In an official order, the Union Home ministry said Ayodhya matters and related court judgements will be handled by three officers, headed by Additional Secretary Gynesh Kumar. There was a dedicated Ayodha cell in the home ministry in the 1990s and early 2000s but it was closed down after the submission of the Liberhan Commission of Inquiry on Ayodha.

The move bears significance in the wake of November 9 judgement of the Supreme Court which allowed construction of a Ram Temple in the disputed site in Ayodha.

The apex court also ordered handing over of a 5-acre plot to Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board and setting up of a trust for construction of the Ram temple. Now, this new wing of the home ministry, headed by Kumar, will look after all matters related to the Ayodhya issue.

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There have been reports that the Uttar Pradesh government has sent a proposal to the home ministry suggesting three plots in Ayodhya, one of which can be given to UP Sunni Waqf Board. “All such matters will be now handled by the new desk in the home ministry,” an official said.

Interestingly, Kumar also heads the Department of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh affairs in the home ministry. He was the key officer in the Centre’s move to abrogate the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories.

Till now, matters relating to Ayodhya and court cases related to Ram Janma Bhoomi and Babri Masjid dispute were handled by the Internal Security-I division of the home ministry, along with matters related to National Integration Council, Sikh militancy, Official Secrets Act, communal riots besides others.

In the same order, the home ministry also said the Internal Security-II division has been merged with the Internal Security-I division and henceforth it will be known as Internal Security-I division.

Joint Secretary (Women Safety) Punya Salila Srivastava has been given the charge of the merged Internal Security-I division along with her present responsibility in the home ministry.

(With inputs from agencies)