Speakers warn of dire consequences on fresh litigations against ancient mosques
Abdul Bari Masoud | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — Prominent leaders and activists gathered to observe the 32nd anniversary of the historic Babri masjid demolition here at Jantar Mantar on Friday. They condemned fresh flurry of litigation against the ancient Muslim religious places in the strongest possible terms and warned that if this menace were not stopped, the country would face dire consequences. They also slammed the former Chief justice DY Chandrachud for his judgement allowing survey of religious places in violation of The Places of Worship Act 1991 and his own Ayodhya verdict that opened the Pandora’s Box.
On this day, December,6, 1992, the 400- year old mosque situated in Ayodhya was pulled down in broadday light by the Hindutva radicals in the presence of BJP’s top leadership including L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. This criminal act is considered as one of the darkest chapters of independent India carried out by the Hindutva forces to counter the then United Front Government’s affirmative action for backward classes.
The speakers also highlighted that the demolition was held as a criminal act by the Supreme court and that the mosque was not erected before demolishing any temple in its verdict.
The meeting to protest the unjustified demolition of the Babri Masjid was jointly organised by Lok Raj Sangathan and many other organisations who have been waging a long and consistent battle to punish the guilty for the criminal demolition of Babri Masjid, a national monument, and to put a stop to communal violence and the policy of divide and rule.
Besides Lok Raj Sangathan, Social democratic Party of India, Welfare Party of India, Communist Ghadar Party of India, Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind, Lok Paksh, Citizens for Democracy, Students Islamic Organisation, Mazdoor Ekta Committee, Purogami Mahila Sangathan, The Sikh Forum, CPI (M-L) – New Proletarian, United Muslims Front, and others were the organisers. Representatives of participating organisations put forward their views on the issue and what needs to be done.
Those who addressed the demonstration included S Raghavan, President of Lok Raj Sangathan, Dr. Rais Uddin of Welfare Party of India, Mohammed Shafi of Social Democratic P arty of India, Prakash Rao of Communist Ghadar Party, Dr SQR Ilyas of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Mohammed Salim Engineer of Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind, Comrade Ravindra Kumar Yadav of Lok Paksh, ND Pancholi of Citizens for Democracy, Com. Sheomangal Siddhantkar of CPI (M-L) – New Proletarian. Adv. Shahid Ali of United Muslims Front, Lali Sahani of the Sikh Forum, Dr. Onkar Nath Katiyar of Al-Hind Party as well as delegates of Purogami Mahila Sangathan, Mazdoor Ekta Committee, Woman India Movement, Hind Naujawan Ekta Sabha and others were present.
The speakers highlighted key points related to this tragic event and its aftermath.
On 6 December 1992, the 16th-century Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished by karsevaks, despite assurances given by the Uttar Pradesh government to the Supreme Court that the mosque would not be harmed. The Congress-led central government and state police forces did not intervene. BJP leaders, including party president LK Advani, openly encouraged the destruction.
This act was not spontaneous, as claimed in official records, but pre-planned and supported by those in power. The Lieberhan Commission, set up shortly after the demolition, took 17 years to submit its report, holding 68 people guilty, including prominent BJP leaders. Despite this, a Special CBI Court acquitted all the accused in 2020 due to “lack of evidence.” The Srikrishna Commission confirmed the involvement of BJP, Congress, and Shiv Sena leaders in inciting the violence. Yet, none of them have been punished even after three decades, exposing the complicity of the ruling establishment.
In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of building a Ram temple at the site, effectively legitimising the demolition of the historical mosque.
The campaign for a Ram temple at the Babri Masjid site was driven by political motives, aimed at dividing Hindus and Muslims at a time when people were demanding solutions to pressing issues like unemployment and poverty. The ruling establishment used communal polarisation to weaken the unity of the masses and distract them from their failures.
Over the years, the demonisation of Muslims and Sikhs has continued under successive governments. The demolition of places of worship and baseless claims about historical monuments, such as the GyanVapi Mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura, are being used to incite communal tensions. Recently, police violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, against protesters opposing such claims, resulted in the death of at least four people.
Speakers questioned how can we accept a verdict that leaves the criminals unpunished? It is not only an attack on Muslims but an attack on all the justice loving people of our country.
They declared that “We, the people of India, are opposed to the destruction of any place of worship. We uphold the right to conscience – that is, the right of every human being to his or her belief and form of worship”.
They reiterated with one voice that “We will persist with our struggle for justice. We will persist with the demand that the principle of command responsibility be followed, that those responsible for the demolition of Babri Masjid and the unleashing of communal violence in 1992-93 must be punished. We demand that the right to conscience of every member of society must be respected and protected, as a universal and inviolable right”.
The struggle against communal violence must aim to create a society where the unity and rights of all people are safeguarded, and divisive politics has no place. Let us work towards a future of justice, equality, and harmony.
They also observed that the recent flurry petitions are being filed on the behest of the ruling party in order to divert attention of people from the burning issues of inflation, unemployment, other failures. They also alleged that it was plot hatched to distract the attention from the caste census demand but warned that it entails directly consequences for the country’s integrity and unity. Leaders called for to stand united against these forces.
