25 Years Of Babri Masjid Demolition: The Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992.
The central government has asked all states to remain cautious and ensure peace in all districts as December 6 marks
25 years of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. Just yesterday, the Supreme Court said it will begin the final hearing over the disputed Ayodhya site, claimed by both Hindus and Muslims on February 8 next year. Hindus believe the site is where Lord Ram was born thereby calling it the Ram Janmabhoomi. Hindus also claim that Mughal emperor Babur built a mosque over the site where Lord Ram was born. Muslims on the other hand say that the site is important to them as the Babri Masjid - a mosque built by Mughal emperor Babur - stood there from 1528 AD to December 6, 1992. The land dispute case has been in the courts for quarter of a century now as the ancient and holy city of Ayodhya has frozen in time.
Here are the highlights from Ayodhya and the rest of India as December 6 marks 25 Years of the Babri Masjid demolition:
Congress leader Anand Sharma said his party was not a litigant in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute, and would accept whatever decision the Supreme Court takes on it.
"Prime minister can call Kapil Sibalji to discuss the issue over a cup of tea. We, as Congress party, cannot comment on this because we are not part of the litigation," Mr Sharma told reporters.
"Congress is clear that the matter is before the Supreme Court and our party will support whatever the court says. The prime minister should decide if he is giving any direction to the Supreme Court?" Mr Sharma said.
Mr Sharma's statement comes a day after BJP chief Amit Shah asked the Congress to make its stand clear on the Ram Janmabhoomi issue, after Sibal sought deferment of the hearing on the title dispute till the conclusion of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Hyderabad remained peaceful today even as the police foiled an attempt by an organisation to hold protest.
Police foiled an attempt by the members of city-based organisation Darsgah Jihad-O-Shahadat (DJS) to hold protest and took over 20 activists into preventive custody, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Zone) K Babu Rao said. "The day passed off peacefully," he said.
At some locations, shops and business establishments downed shutters voluntarily after certain organisations called for observing a `Black Day' to mark the anniversary.
Six left parties today urged the government to punish those responsible for the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya and said they would continue to put pressure on it till the guilty were booked.
Marking the 25th year of the demolition of the 16th- century mosque as a "Black Day", the parties, including the CPI(M) and the CPI, said they would hold mass movements across the country till action was taken against the guilty.
"We will put pressure on the government through mass movements till the people responsible for the demolition of the Babri Masjid are booked," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said at a protest march in Delhi.
Leaders of the CPI(M), CPI, RSP, AIFB, CPIML and SUCI said at the march they would strengthen their struggle against "communal polarisation" which they alleged was being encouraged by the RSS and the BJP.
There were intelligence inputs that some mischievous elements and various terrorist outfits might try to disrupt peace on the day.
- All fire cracker shops have been asked to shut down and vigil has been stepped up around liquor vends as well.
- Orders have also been issued to check roof tops, which in Uttar Pradesh are often used to stockpile stones and bricks to be used during communal clashes.
- Police deployed on duty has been asked to carry with them riot gears including helmets, body protectors, tear gas shells, rubber bullet guns for any emergency.
Security has been heightened in Ayodhya on the 25th anniversary of Babri Masjid Demolition- Twenty seven additional companies of the provincial armed constabulary (PAC) have been deployed across the state.
- Of these, six companies each have been deployed in the state capital and in Faizabad district, specially to keep vigil on the temple town of Ayodhya.
- Ayodhya has been divided into four zones and ten sectors and prohibitory orders under section 144 have been clamped.
- Any form of protests, demonstrations have been completely banned.
- In a communication to the states and union territories, the Union home ministry urged them to deploy adequate security forces at sensitive places and maintain extra vigil so that attempts to disturb peace could be foiled, a ministry official said today.
- The Supreme Court will, on February 8, begin its final hearing on the Babri demolition site that is claimed by both Hindus and Muslims, judges said on Tuesday.
- With the Supreme Court set to begin daily hearings, many are questioning whether the backroom negotiations can work.
- The 16th-century Babri Majid was razed to the ground in on December 6, 1992 by thousands of right-wing volunteers or karsewaks, claiming it was built after demolishing a temple marking the birthplace of Lord Ram.
- In April 2002, a 3-judge Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court began hearings to determine who owned the site. The high court delivered its ruling in 2010, holding that two-thirds of 2.77 acres area should be allotted to two Hindu organisations, Nirmohi Akhara, and Ram Lalla; and the remainder to the Sunni Central Waqf Board of Uttar Pradesh.
- In the last three months, 24 fresh truckloads of stones have arrived at the workshop located 2 km from the disputed site - the first time since 2015, when previous Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav banned the movement of stones in Ayodhya.