RSS, BJP reach out to Muslims ahead of Ayodhya verdict

16,000 volunteers deployed to keep eye on social media

NEW DELHI: Days ahead of the Ayodhya verdict, senior RSS and BJP leaders reached out to prominent Muslim clerics and intellectuals and held a meeting with them here on Tuesday during which it was stressed that irrespective of the nature of the court ruling there should neither be 'junooni jashn' (excessive celebration) nor 'haar ka hungama' (brouhaha over defeat).

The meeting, held at the residence of Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, was attended by RSS leaders Krishna Gopal and Ramlal, former Union minister Shahnawaz Hussain, Jamiat Ulema-e-hind general secretary Mahmood Madani, Shia cleric Kalbe Jawad and filmmaker Muzaffar Ali.

"A historic dialogue was held today in which Muslim intellectuals and clerics participated. At the meeting, it was stressed that all efforts should be made to strengthen the unity and brotherhood in the country under all circumstances," Naqvi told reporters after the meeting.

"Kahin par bhi jeet ka junooni jashn aur haar ka hahakaari hungama nahin hona chahiye, usse bachna chahiye (Nowhere, the verdict should be excessively celebrated as a victory, nor there should be a brouhaha over the defeat. We should completely avoid this)," he said. Hussain AYODHYA: Ahead of the Ayodhya verdict in the Supreme Court, Faizabad police have deployed 16,000 volunteers to keep an eye against objectionable content on social media, an official said.

A similar number of volunteers have been put in place across 1,600 localities in the district to maintain calm when the order on the Ram Janmabhoomi-babri Masjid dispute is delivered, Senior Superintendent of Police Ashish Tiwari said. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi is expected to deliver the verdict in the

said it was unanimously agreed at the meeting that the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya will be acceptable to all.

"This verdict will strengthen the country. A message of unity has gone out with today's meeting. This dialogue (between the RSS leaders and Muslims) that has started will not stop and meetings between the Sangh representatives and the Muslim community will continue in future as well," he added.

The meeting is seen as part of efforts by the RSS and the BJP to reach out to the Muscase before his retirement on November 17.

On Saturday, District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha had issued orders against the use of social media to "insult" deities or to install idols and hold processions related to Ram Janmabhoomi. He also extended prohibitory orders till December 28, mentioning apprehension of breach of peace ahead of the verdict.

The SSP said they are ready to deal with terror attacks, communal riots, public resentment, any danger to the disputed site and have also taken care of all loopholes.

lim community and send out a message of peace and harmony.

According to sources, RSS

leader Gopal asked those present in the meeting whether it was imperative that Muslims

lead Muslims and Hindus lead Hindus. "Why can't a Hindu

lead a Muslim and a Muslim

lead a Hindu?" he asked. Asserting that inclusivity has been India's tradition, Gopal was quoted as saying at the meeting that in the entire history of the RSS, none of its chiefs have ever uttered a single word against the Muslim.