New Delhi:
Speaking on the Ayodhya verdict, Home Minster P Chidambaram said the Centre had taken adequate measures and deployed sufficient security personnel across the country.
Almost 2 lakh policemen have been deployed in Uttar Pradesh. "Centre has taken adequate measures and deployed adequate forces to help the state governments maintain law and order. With the measures taken, we will be able to maintain law and order," said the Home Minister.
"I think that India has moved on; young people have moved on and the young people recognise that the India story is more than a dispute about a place - whether one particular religious group is entitled to the place or another religious group. The India story is a much bigger story and I think young people recognise that that big India story should not be, in any way, be derailed by dispute over a place," Chidambaram said. (
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The Home Minister expressed confidence that there would be no trouble after the judgement. "Young people born after 1992 have a very different world view. So we are confident that with the measures that we have taken, we will be able to maintain law and order across the country. I don't foresee any problem in the wake of the judgement. Nevertheless, as a government we have to take measures and that is what we've done," Chidambaram said.
He once again appealed to all sections of people of the country to cooperate with the government and "uphold the values that are dear to our country".
In this context, Chidambaram invoked Mahatma Gandhi and cited his favourite bhajan - 'Ishwar Allah Tero Naam, Sabko Sanmati De Bhagwan'.
Ahead of the Ayodhya verdict which will be delivered on Thursday in Lucknow, the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi have both appealed to people to keep calm once the judgement is announced.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court will rule on the disputed site at Ayodhya and what existed first - a temple for Lord Ram or the Babri Masjid.
"There should be no attempt whatsoever made by any section of people to provoke any other section or to indulge in any expression of emotion that would hurt the feelings of other people," the PM said in an appeal published in almost all leading newspapers.
(Read: PM, Sonia appeal for peace) The Centre has identified 32 locations across the country where it apprehends trouble and kept forces in readiness at 16 places for quick deployment, including by heavy lift aircraft like IL-76.
Firming up its contingency plans in view of the verdict on the sensitive issue on Thursday, the Home Ministry has issued an advisory to states and Union Territories to keep the forces on high alert as the judgement could trigger "sharp reactions", sources said.
(Read: Ayodhya Verdict - Centre identifies 32 sensitive locations)(With PTI inputs)