PM Modi has called for peace ahead of the Supreme Court's historic verdict (File Photo)
Highlights
- In a series of tweets, PM Modi appealed for peace ahead of verdict
- "Priority of the country's citizens is to maintain harmony," he said
- Security arrangements have been stepped up in different parts of country
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for peace ahead of the Supreme Court's historic verdict in the decades-old Ayodhya land dispute. In a series of tweets in Hindi on Friday, the Prime Minister said that the "Ayodhya verdict will not be anybody's victory or loss", adding that it was the priority of the country's citizens to maintain harmony.
A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi delivered a landmark verdict this morning, ending a century-old legal wrangle over a piece of land in Ayodhya where the 16th century Babri mosque stood before it was razed by Hindu activists who believe it is the birthplace of Lord Ram.
"The Supreme Court's decision on Ayodhya is coming tomorrow. For the past few months, the matter was being heard continuously in the Supreme Court, the whole country was watching eagerly. During this period, the efforts made by all sections of the society to maintain an atmosphere of peace are greatly appreciated," PM Modi said in a tweet, adding that the efforts by all sections of society to maintain peace and harmony was "commendable".
"I appeal to countrymen that it should be our priority to strengthen our tradition of maintaining peace and harmony after Ayodhya verdict. In the run up to Ayodhya verdict, efforts have been made by various people and organisations to maintain harmonious atmosphere. We have to maintain amity even after Ayodhya verdict," PM Modi said in another tweet.
"The Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya would not be a matter of victory or loss. My appeal to countrymen is that it should be our priority that the verdict should strengthen India''s great tradition of peace, unity and amity," PM Modi said.
Appeals for peace have come from Hindu and Muslim organisations and different political leaders ahead of the verdict.
Security arrangements have been stepped up in different parts of the country, with multi-layered arrangements being made in the temple town of Ayodhya.
The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, educational institutions and training centres in the state from Saturday to Monday. Yogi Adityanath has asked for two helicopters to be on standby, one in Lucknow and one in Ayodhya, to tackle any possible emergency.
Schools in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Karnataka will remain closed today.
The dispute over 2.77 acres of land in Ayodhya, claimed by both Hindus and Muslims, has dominated political discourse since the 1980s. In 1992, right wing activists tore down the 16th century Babri mosque that they believed was built on the ruins of an ancient temple that marked the birthplace of the Lord Ram. In the riots that followed, more than 2,000 people were killed across the country.