Saharanpur, 19 Jan (HS): The contribution of former city Sanghchalak, resident of Gangoh, Rakesh Garg, famously known as Jaishree Ram, in the construction journey of Prabhu Shri Ram temple was also no less. Not only did the entire country resonate with the echo of Jai Shri Ram during the Temple movement launched by him, but the then Virbahadur Singh government had to change its decision and allow his Rath Yatra.

This incident dates back to the year 1986, when Vishwa Hindu Parishad had started Ram Janaki Rath Yatra from Lucknow for the construction of Ram temple in the entire Uttar Pradesh. One of the five Ram Janaki Rath Yatras taken out across the state was from Ram Janaki Rath Yatra of Western Uttar Pradesh.

Rakesh Garg was there as charioteer and priest but in the last phase, the chariot was stopped by the administration on 13 February 1986, even before entering Meerut district from Ghaziabad. Angered by this, the priest Rakesh Garg gave a harsh warning to the officials and moved the chariot forward and started the program at Parikshitgarh, Meerut. Rath was also accompanied by Champat Rai, the then Ghaziabad department pracharak of RSS and currently General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra and National Vice President of VHP, Rakesh Jain, the then district pracharak of Ghaziabad and recently National Organization Minister of Seva Bharti.

As soon as the district administration informed about the government's ban on Rath Yatra, the priest started a fast unto death in the Gandhari Temple Pond complex, raising slogans of Jai Shri Ram. After this VHP announced a nationwide movement. Within no time, thousands of people reached the protest site and started kirtan and bhandara.

The police had to lathi charge the protesters at many places including Agwanheda village and Meerut. Seeing the deteriorating atmosphere, the then Veer Bahadur Singh government, late at night on the second day of the movement, allowed the Rath Yatra to continue only till 22nd February.

At midnight, the Meerut administration, along with Sangh's department campaigner and current director of Vardan Eye Hospital, Ghaziabad, Kamlesh Kumar and metropolitan campaigner Adheesh, informed about the special permission of the government and ended the fast by making priest Rakesh Garg drink juice. After this the Rath Yatra of Ram Janaki could be completed.

Hindusthan Samachar/Abhishek Awasthi/Manoj