Ayodhya residents confident that peace will prevail
Faizabad district administration is on its toes to avoid any untoward incident, appeals to people to pay no heed to rumours and social media posts
AYODHYA/LUCKNOW: The Faizabad district administration has tightened security in Ayodhya ahead of the 25th anniversary of demolition of the Babri Masjid on Wednesday.
Like every year, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) will observe ‘Shaurya Diwas’ and the Muslim organisations will mark the day as ‘Yaum-e-Gham (day of sorrow) and Yaum-e-Syaah (black day) even as the people of the temple said they were confident the occasion will pass off without any untoward incident.
“After demolition of the structure, every December 6 has passed off peacefully in Ayodhya. I hope this year will be no different,” said Sandeep Garg, 59 resident of Naya Ghat area in the temple town. Radhika Kapoor, 51, another resident, said: “Despite the hype, people of Ayodhya are prudent enough to let December 6 pass off peacefully.”
Para-military forces, including Central Reserve Police Force, Rapid Action Force and Provincial Armed Constabulary, along with local police personnel, staged a route march on the main streets of the twin cities of Ayodhya and Faizabad on Monday and Tuesday.
Faizabad district magistrate Anil Kumar Pathak and senior superintendent of police Subhash Singh Baghel jointly convened back-to back meetings with administrative and police officers and members of both communities. The administration appealed to both communities to pay no heed to rumours and inflammatory social media posts, if any. The SSP said barriers were installed at about 12 entry points to Ayodhya, adding police were searching hotels, guesthouses, bus stations, railway stations and other public places.
Simultaneously, temples have been asked to maintain visitors’ register and enter the name of every outstation pilgrim. Sharad Sharma, state spokesperson for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, told HT: “We have issued an appeal to people to light diyas (earthen lamps) outside their houses to mark the day,” said Sharad Sha rma, state spokesperson of the VHP.
He said the VHP will organise Hindu Swabhiman Sammelan at its local head office in Karsevakpuram. Hindu Mahasabha state spokesperson Manish Pandey announced his organisation will commemorate the day as ‘Mandir Nirman Sankalp Diwas’ at Naya Ghat, Ayodhya. Indian Muslim League state president Nazamul Hasan Gani said his organisation will stage a ‘dharna’at the Gandhi Park in Civil Lines, Faizabad to register a symbolic protest .
The Muslim Majlis has appealed to Muslim traders to close their business establishments and raise black flags on places of worship to observe Black Day. Mahant Raghunandan Das, priest of Mithila Bhavan, described all events related with December 6 as politically motivated. “This year, the hype is more due to the BJP being in power at Centre and state,” said Das.