Bajrang Dal members in the city were booked for breaching prohibitory orders.
Ayodhya: While the Muslim community in Ayodhya today demanded that the government reconstruct the Babri Masjid, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass a law in parliament for the construction of a Ram mandir on the site if the Supreme Court delays disposing off the issue.
Muslim groups observed the 25th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition as a ‘day of sorrow (yaum e gham)’ and a ‘black day (yaum e syah)’.
In a public meeting organised by Muslim groups in Ayodhya, the community demanded the reconstruction of the Babri Masjid as was promised by then prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao after the demolition on December 6, 1992
In a memorandum sent to the prime minister, community members demanded that those accused in the mosque’s demolition be punished. They also demanded that the prime minister put a stop to the controversial statements regularly made by VHP members that are allegedly creating communal hatred.
Talking to The Wire, president of the Babri Masjid Action Committee Afaq Ahmad Khan said, “We still hope for justice as we have firm belief in the constitution and the Supreme Court.”
Meanwhile, the VHP celebrated December 6 as the ‘day of bravery (shaurya diwas)’ and the ‘day of victory (vijay diwas)’ in Karsewakpuram, the VHP’s local headquarters in Ayodhya.
VHP spokesperson Sharad Sharma told The Wire, “If the Union government thinks there may be a delay by the Supreme Court in disposing off the Ayodhya issue, the government must pass a law in parliament for the construction of a Ram janambhoomi mandir.”
Case booked against Bajrang Dal activists for breaking prohibitory orders in Ayodhya
A criminal case against Bajrang Dal activists was also filed for breaking prohibitory orders (Section 144) in Ayodhya on December 6. Fifty unknown persons were charged at the Ayodhya Kotwali police station for breaching the peace and communal harmony and disturbing law and order.
This was because Bajrang Dal activists took out a big march on bikes and cars, flying saffron flags and allegedly raising communal slogans in Ayodhya as part of their celebrations for ‘vijay diwas’. While the procession was passing through the streets of Ayodhya, it created tension for some time. Muslims observing ‘yaum e gham’ in Ayodhya’s Tehri Bazaar area were enraged and demanded action against the Bajrang Dal activists.
Speaking to The Wire, Haji Mahboob, local convenor of the Babri Masjid Action Committee, said, “We have demanded that the administration take strict action against those trying to pollute the harmonious atmosphere of Ayodhya.”
Faizabad SSP Subhash Singh Baghel said, “Those were some youngsters who were going to take part in VHP’s ‘shaurya diwas’ programme. On getting information about it, we interrupted them and made them stop their procession.”
Faizabad district magistrate Anil Kumar Pathak told The Wire that he has ordered a case to be registered against those who broke the prohibitory orders and also ordered an enquiry.
