Ayodhya verdict: Centre asks states to remain alert

Against the demand of 63,000 paramilitary personnel to deal with any situation arising out of the Allahabad High Court verdict,the Central government has provided 5,200 armed guard,including Rapid Action Force,to Uttar Pradesh – a decision the state government termed as “insufficient”.

The Centre is keeping ready paramilitary forces at a few strategic locations,closer to airports,for immediate deployment in the places of trouble anywhere in the country.

The Home Ministry has already prepared a contingency plan to deal with any situation arising out of the court judgement which may come even tomorrow itself if the apex court allows to do so.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia will tomorrow decide the fate of the special leave petition seeking postponement of the judgement,which was supposed to deliver on September 24 but was deferred by the apex court.

In an advisory,the Home Ministry has asked all states and Union Territories to give “top most priority” in maintaining law and order as the judgement has the potential to “evoke sharp reactions”.

In its communication,the Ministry also informed states and UTs of the activities of various religious groups which have already announced countrywide mass mobilisation and awareness campaign in view of the forthcoming court verdict.

Maintaining that the court verdict “is likely to evoke sharp reactions and communal passions among both Hindus and Muslims depending on the way the judgement goes”,the Ministry has asked states and UTs to keep a close watch on activities of religious bodies of both the communities in the run-up to the judgement.

The Home Ministry has asked paramilitary forces,including CRPF and Rapid Action Force (RAF),to reinforcements ready as and when needed by states for deployment in sensitive areas prior to the verdict.