Lucknow: Litigant in Babri Masjid case expresses concern on safety of his community

VHP vice-president Champat Rai on Wednesday said they would be organising ‘Dharma Sabhas’ in four cities followed by three-hour prayer meetings at 5,000 locations across the country to demonstrate that the “sentiments of 125 crore Hindus are priority” when it comes to the Ram temple issue.

“In 1990, when such a huge crowd had gathered, gunshots were fired. In 1992, too, houses of Muslims were destroyed and looted and Muslims were killed. When such environment is created in Ayodhya, it is always the Muslims who suffer,” Ansari said.

“I am speaking on the basis of what I have seen in the past. When both the parties are ready to accept the judgment of the court, what is the need for such road shows or religious meetings in Ayodhya?” Ansari added. “We have trust in the Yogi government but our point is that when such a huge crowd gathers, no one has control over it,” Ansari said. His father Hashim Ansari, who was the oldest litigant of the case, died two years ago.

Zafaryab Jilani, convenor of Babri Masjid Action Committee and secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, supported Ansari. “His (Ansari) concerns are genuine,” Jilani said.

Surendra Jain, Joint General Secretary of VHP, said, “These statements are made to create an atmosphere of fear and malign our campaign. It is not in our culture to create destruction.”