On the eve of the Allahabad High Court verdict in the 60-year-old Ayodhya dispute, the Centre said it had deployed adequate security forces all over the country to maintain law, order and peace.
In Uttar Pradesh, about 1.9 lakh Central paramilitary forces had been deployed to deal with any situation that might develop after the pronouncement of the verdict by the Special Bench, Home Minister P. Chidambaram told journalists here on Wednesday.
“Unintended benefit”
In his view, the judgment delay of six days has had an “unintended benefit,” giving a number of parties, groups and individuals an opportunity to reiterate that they would respect the verdict.
Replying to queries, he said India had “moved on” since 1992 and he did not “foresee any problem” as almost all political parties, religious groups and those associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suits had said they would respect the court verdict.
“But, as a government, we have to take measures. So we have deployed adequate forces.” At the same time, he expressed confidence that there would be no trouble after the judgment. “I think, India has moved on, young people have moved on. I think young people have recognised that the India story is much more than a dispute over a place where one religious group claims they are entitled to [rather] than another religious group.”
“The India story is much bigger a story and young people recognise that that bigger story should not be derailed over this dispute. Particularly those who were born after 1992 have a very different worldview.”
However, the Minister said, one or two persons might give vent to their “spontaneous reaction,” so be it.
Replying to another question, he said: “As a lawyer, the way I see it, my expectation is that one or more persons will appeal to the Supreme Court. You can ask for oral leave after the judgment is given.”
Asked if he had any apprehension over law and order in the BJP-ruled States, Mr. Chidambaram said the party's official position was that it would respect the court judgment and he expected them to abide by it and respect that line.
