The Union government has made a strong appeal for communal harmony and peace ahead of the judgment in the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi title suit case on September 24 by the Allahabad High Court.
Apprehensive that the verdict in the case could trigger tension, the government said if one community was aggrieved, further legal recourse would be open to it.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni read out to the media a resolution made in this regard at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, first in Hindi and then in English.
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Sources in the Ministry said the government would release the resolution as an advertisement in the media and make a radio spot in all Indian languages. The advertisement will carry the text of the resolution and have a photograph of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the top right hand corner.
Pointing out that the judgment would be just “one step in the judicial process,” the resolution said: “The determination of the issues need not necessarily end with this judgment, unless it is accepted by all parties. In case, any of the parties feels that further judicial consideration is required, there are legal remedies available which could be resorted to.”
The judgment, the resolution said, “needs to be treated with utmost respect.” Since the aggrieved party could appeal in court, it was “necessary for all sections of people to maintain equanimity and tranquillity in the aftermath of the judgment.”
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“There should be no attempt whatsoever made by any section of the people to provoke any other section or to indulge in any expression of emotion that would hurt the feelings of other people,” it added.