25 years on, Ayodhya waits for a solution

The U.P. town remains peaceful but for a bike rally, allegedly by Bajrang Dal

VHP leader, Nritya Gopal Das, during Shaurya Sabha in Ayodhya on Wednesday.

The Faizabad administration on Wednesday ordered a First Information Report (FIR) against some alleged Bajrang Dal activists for violating prohibitory orders and taking out a bike rally in Ayodhya while waving saffron flags to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid.

However, apart from this incident, which sent the administration into a tizzy, the occasion passed off peacefully, with both disputing sides holding their respective programmes as per tradition.

Mourning events

Since the death of the oldest litigant Hashim Ansari, the centre of attraction for the mourning groups has been the house of Haji Mehboob, a petitioner and member of the Babri Action Committee. The ceremonial programme, an annual affair since the mosque was razed by kar sevaks in 1992, started with a bunch of emotional speeches by locals appealing to Muslims that the fight for “justice” will continue. “Even if not in my lifetime, I will make sure my son campaigns for justice after I die,” said a speaker at the ‘Youm-e-gam Shahadat Babri Masjid ka’ (Day of Sorrow on the Martyrdom of Babri Masjid) hosted at Mr. Mehboob’s residence.

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The house, situated close to the disputed site and opposite the Ram Janmabhoomi Police Station, was under heavy police cover.

Speaker after speaker appealed to Muslims to continue their legal struggle and wait for the Supreme Court’s order, while many others urged youth to maintain peace and harmony.

The speeches went on till the afternoon azaan (call to prayer) played from the Tedhi Bazaar mosque nearby.

Mr. Mehboob said he wanted a quick solution to the dispute, irrespective of who was awarded the disputed land.

“The solution should be full and on paper. Be it in favour of Hindus or Muslims, it should be resolved once and for all,” he said.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) celebrated the Babri demolition, this time as a ‘Shourya Sankalp Sabha’. Sharad Sharma, VHP spokesperson, said he had no idea about the bike-rally incident or if the activists belonged to Bajrang Dal.

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PTI adds:

Against shifting hearing to 2019: Sunni board

Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board, One of the appellants in the title suit case, on Wednesday said it wanted speedy justice and was not in favour of shifting the hearing till after the 2019 general elections. This comes a day after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Board, made an appeal to the the Supreme Court to postpone the hearing.