Excavation at the disputed site in Ayodhya resumed today after a one-day Moharram break even as representatives of the Waqf Board demanded equal representation of Hindus and Muslims in the group of workers engaged by the ASI in the exercise.‘‘Why is there not a single Muslim among the nearly 52 workers who have been engaged by the ASI? And why is there only one Muslim in the ASI team of 14 members? We want equal representation of both communities in the whole exercise,’’ demanded Zafaryab Jilani, counsel and a representative of the Waqf Board, in a letter submitted to ASI team chief B.R. Mani today.Jilani said that while the demand for equal representation of both communities had been raised before the chief of the ASI team, a similar demand to include more Muslim archaeologists in the ASI team would be placed before the high court and the Director General, ASI.Jilani also demanded that no one be allowed entry into the premises of the disputed site for darshan by raising slogans. It may be recalled that RSS volunteers, earlier this week, took out a procession, raising slogans and went for a darshan of the Ram Lalla.‘‘Special care should be taken to ensure that nobody tries to worsen the already charged atmosphere and offenders should be arrested,’’ Jilani said.Meanwhile, labourers under the supervision of the ASI team led by superintending archaeologist B.R. Mani began the digging today at four fresh trenches just opposite the make-shift temple.While archaeologists Muhammad Abid, Benani Bhattacharya and R.C. Thakral represented the Muslim bodies, A.K. Mishra, J.P. Srivastava, Prakash Sharan Prakash were present on behalf of the contesting Hindu parties.Only a shell, a ‘basal’ and two brick imprints of 1920 vintage besides a municipal pipeline connection taken by the ‘‘Nirmohi Akhara’’ in 1974 have surfaced so far during the digging.
