Hindu fundamentalists attack the wall of the 16th century Babri Masjid mosque with iron rods at a disputed holy site in the city of Ayodhya in 1992. - Douglas E. Curran/AFP/Getty Images ...

Hindus believe that Hindu deity Ram was born at the exact same site in Ayodhya where the 16th-century Babri mosque once stood. The mosque was destroyed by a Hindu mob in December 1992.

Late last year, Arafat Shaikh – a member of the BJP – was appointed to lead the construction of the mosque. He told CNN that he had never stepped foot in Ayodhya before he took on the role.