By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Four days ahead of the coming verdict on Babri Masjid title suit, Ayodhya today is peaceful. Residents including Muslims are not panicky as they were in 1992, and so are not thinking to flee to safer places. Even a couple of Muslim families in Hanuman Gadhi are not frightened.
The verdict in the 60-year-old title suit of Babri Masjid-Ram Janambhoomi will be delivered by the Special Bench of the Allahabad High Court on September 24. Taking precautionary measures, the state and central governments have tightened security around the country. Ayodhya and its twin town Faizabad are witnessing heavy security enforcement to maintain peace and law and order following the verdict.
Tehri Bazar Mosque
Though both Muslim and Hindu leaders have indicated to take the case to higher court if the judgment goes against them, there is a fear in the air regarding the fallout. However, there is no panic, not even in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
Yes, there is peace with heavy deployment of forces. Local Muslims are not fleeing. They are not thinking to do so, said Abdul Lateef, a resident living about a km from the disputed site, talking to TCN. There are several mosques, mazars and graveyards with Muslim population in their vicinity in Ayodhya. There are about 103 mosques in the city of Ayodhya of 1.5 lakh population with Muslims constituting 6%. Of 103, 35 mosques are alive where 5-time prayer is offered; at 10-15 mosques, Juma Prayer is also offered.
Muslim Ayodhya: city of mosques, mazars and graves
Dr Samrat Ashok, who has home and clinic in the lane in Hanuman Gadhi, about 300 mt from the site, however, admits there is a sort of fear, but clears there is no panic. “There is no problem from the locals, either Hindu or Muslim; the problem is created by outsiders,” he said. He informed TCN that a few Muslim families who reside in Hanuman Gadhi are still there. They are not thinking to flee, as they did in 1992.
Ayodhya Hindus hate Sangh Parivar, keep aloof from its programs
“There is complete peace. Security personnel have been deployed in good number. More barricades have been erected in the town,” said Jugal Kishor Shastri, a Hindu priest living near Hanuman Gadhi. As evidence of people love peace and communal harmony, he cited the recent visit of ex-UP CM Kalyan Singh to the Hanuman Gadhi and makeshift temple. “No local resident accompanied him. He addressed a press conference outside a temple. The mahant of the temple did not share the dais with Singh,” informed Shastri.
Asked if people have faith in police this time, the priest, who has tirelessly worked for peace and communal harmony since the demolition of the mosque on 6th December 1992, said: “Yes, people have a little more faith in police this time as there is a change in composition of for example PAC (UP armed police force) thanks to reservation police,” said Shastri.
For last four months the Ayodhya Ki Awaz of Shastri has carried out intensified campaign in the twin towns of Ayodhya and Faizabad for peace and communal harmony. “In May this year, Praveen Togadiya had come here and gave his followers a calendar of mandir campaign. But before they could start the campaign we started a counter campaign with the main slogan of Mandir Masjid wahan banenge / Desh ke nayayalay jahan kahenge (Mandir or Masjid will be constructed according to the court order),” said he.