Muslims shout slogans during a demonstration in New Delhi on Tuesday to mark the 13th anniversary of the razing of the 16th century Babri Mosque. (Reuters)

NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD, 7 December 2005 — Protests by Muslims all over the country, including the capital New Delhi, marked the 13th anniversary of the Babri Mosque demolition yesterday. One person was killed in stray violence in Kerala but Ayodhya itself was tension-free as Hindus there celebrated the wedding of deity Ram.

In Kerala’s Kasargod district, supporters of Muslim leader Abdul Naser Mahdani’s People Democratic Party stoned vehicles, resulting in the death of a tanker driver.

Shutdowns were observed in Andhra Pradesh capital Hyderabad and Muslim-majority districts of the state in response to a call by Muslim organizations that observe the pulling down of the 16th century mosque in Ayodhya by a Hindu mob as a ‘Black Day’.

Majlis-e-Ittehaadul Muslimeen members stalled the proceedings of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly demanding that the Congress government at the center take immediate steps to rebuild Babri Masjid at Ayodhya.

Noisy protests by the MIM members, after their adjournment motion on the issue was disallowed, forced the speaker, K.R. Suresh Reddy, to adjourn the house twice before a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee was held.

In Hyderabad’s Charminar area, which bustles with activity, the streets wore a deserted look as shops and educational institutions remained closed. Black flags were hoisted on crossroads and atop shops and houses. Muslims also kept their business establishments closed in other towns of the state like Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Adilabad.

In Tamil Nadu, demonstrations were held across the state and over 1,600 people courted arrest in Coimbatore and Ramanathapuram districts.

People staged protests in Madurai, Dindigul, Tuticorin, Theni, Nilgiris and Tiruchirapalli districts.

Activists of the Muslim Forum and Muslim League held a demonstration before State Assembly in the state capital Lucknow demanding that those responsible for the demolition of the mosque be punished soon.

Muslims also registered their protest by hoisting black flags atop mosques on the Faizabad-Ayodhya road, police said.

In Ayodhya, however, the situation was in stark contrast to the previous anniversaries when Hindus, celebrating ‘victory day’ held meetings and pledged to build a grand Ram temple at the place where the demolished mosque stood.