Finally, it is official. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi has called off his proposed visit to Ayodhya on June 20.
According to a close aide of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the Gujarat chief minister has excused himself from his Ayodhya trip, citing other commitments.
In a related development, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has categorically denied that it had said that Mr Modi will also visit the disputed Ram Janambhoomi temple in Ayodhya.
Regional media in-charge of the VHP in Ayodhya Sharad Sharma said in a statement, “I have been quoted as commenting on the visit of Mr Narendra Modi but I hereby officially refute any such comment being attributed to me.”
The BJP spokesman also said on Tuesday that they had never received any information or confirmation of Mr Modi’s visit to Ayodhya. “We do not know how these reports were planted in the media and who is responsible for them. As far as the party is concerned, we never received his programme,” said a spokesman.
Mr Modi, sources said, were among the invitees to the ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ which marks the 75th birthday celebrations of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, seer and chairman of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, that is being celebrated in Ayodhya between June 19 and 22.