Babri demolition day observed in Old City

Charminar: Different Muslim groups observed the 26th year of the Babri Masjid demolition and hoped that the Supreme Court order would be based on evidence and not based on the faith and beliefs of some section of a society. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Telangana State, in a letter to Governor E S L Narasimhan demanded action against the accused responsible for Babri Masjid demolition and ensure rebuilding the mosque at the same site.

While pointing out that justice should be done based on Justice Liberhan Commission’s report, Abdul Gani, state general secretary, IUML, sought action against the individuals and organisations termed as ‘joint common enterprise’ involved in the demolition of the historic mosque. “Most of the perpetrators listed in the report are associated with the Hindutva fascist groups such as RSS, Bajrang Dal, VHP and Shiv Sena. Even after 26 years, Muslims feel aggrieved at the criminal act, as no action was initiated against them. The delay of justice has encouraged the fascist elements to run their propaganda machine that is leading to incidents like mob-lynching,” he noted.

While the DJS (Darsgah Jihad-o-Shahadat), prior to taking out a rally and getting arrested, asserted that the mosque should be constructed on the same site, as the claims of temple being existing before the mosque could be proved in the court of law, ‘based on evidence’. They pointed out that no corroborating evidence was put forth by the British author who had published an article in a newspaper in 1855. This was an attempt purely to create differences between the communities who were fighting the British during first war of Independence. “If the claims were genuine, then the first chronicler, Valmiki could have revealed it. Not even Gurunanak, Shivaji, the enemies of Mughals and not even any freedom fighter claimed this in the past centuries,” said Md Salahuddin, leader of the group.

Awami Insaaf Movement (AIM) while condemning the event which is remembered for creating communal atmosphere described the act of demolition of Mosque in 1992, as criminal. The leaders of the group termed the ‘delay of justice’, as criminal inaction on the part of the State and Central governments. “AIM calls for arrest & prosecution of all accused in the Babri Masjid demolition & subsequent communal riots across India, adequate compensation to families of the dead & the injured, restoration of all religious properties destroyed across India in riots and rebuilding Babri Masjid at the same site after the SC verdict,” said Khalid Hasan, one of the leaders.