By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCirles.net
New Delhi: In the backdrop of the controversial Liberhan Commission Report wherein top Sangh Parivar and BJP leaders have been indicted for Babri Masjid demolition, the 17th anniversary of the demolition was observed across the country today in rather tense atmosphere. The National Capital saw a number of organizations, Muslim as well as non-Muslim, holding demonstrations for different purposes.
While Shiv Sena took out a rally on the Parliament Street making their fiery infamous slogans and vowing to construct Ram Mandir where Babri Masjid once stood, Muslim and other groups were kept in a barricaded lane at Jantar Mantar where they were reiterating demand for the construction of Babri Masjid.
All India Babri Masjid Re-building Committee (AIBMRC) took out a demonstration demanding rebuilding of the masjid at its original site in Ayodhya. AIBMRC President Mohammad Younus Siddiqui, in a memorandum to the President of India, urged her to refer “all the Babri Masjid-Ram Temple disputes to Supreme Court under Article 138-B of the constitution for a final, binding and time-bound decision. Siddiqui also urged her to direct the Central Government to arrest all the culprits responsible for the demolition of Babri Masjid.”
Talking to media, Siddiqui demanded reconstruction of the mosque at the same place where it was and punishment to the Sangh, BJP leaders indicted in the Liberhan Commission Report.
Popular Front of India also held a daylong dharna at Jantar Mantar, demanding reconstruction of the mosque and action against the culprits indicted in the Liberhan Report for the demolition.
The Commission though after 17 years has submitted the report which has also been tabled in the Parliament. “But there is no indication from the part of Government to penalize the criminals. But anybody who respects the rule of law and reign of justice could not forget Babri Masjid. The least act of justice the state can do is to bring the culprits to book,” PFI said.
Asked about the major demand of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) on this 6th December, SDPI General Secretary A Sayeed, who was also attending the PFI dharna said: We have a minimum demand to rebuild the masjid at the exact place where it was, and to punish whosoever held responsible for the demolition of the mosque.”
19-year-old Shaheen, secretary, Campus Front of India, while attending the dharna reiterated the same demand. Shaheen was just two when the mosque was demolished. He heard about the demolition in his childhood.
Besides Muslim organizations, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) New Democracy and Samajwadi Party also held dharna at Jantar Mantar demanding punishment to Babri culprits.
A funeral procession wherein the coffin of Secular India was being carried by the ghosts of RSS/BJP, Congress, Judiciary and Bureaucracy was taken out by drama group Nishant.
To match the political heat of the day, the natural temperature today was rather high compared to other days in this week.
When the day got a little colder senior Muslim leaders including Syed Shahabuddin, Dr Zafrul Islam Khan, Dr Manzoor Alam, Shafi Munis and Ejaz Aslam sat down at the headquarters of All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat to discuss the issue.
Addressing the gathering Syed Shahabuddin, Convenor Babri Masjid Coordination Committee, demanded ban on political parties that use religion to disturb communal harmony in the country. He stressed on making the Babri issue a political issue to put pressure on political parties and government for action against the Babri culprits.
