NEW DELHI, 6 December 2002 — Opposition parties yesterday staged a sit-in inside the Parliament House complex to observe the 10th anniversary of the Babri Mosque demolition in Ayodhya. They also sought the “ouster” of those responsible for it from the government.
Leaders belonging to the Congress party, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and four Left parties staged the hour-long protest, denouncing the ruling Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh Parivar outfits for creating communal tension.
Observing the day as that of “national solidarity” and pledging to maintain and strengthen amity and harmony among the people, they resolved to fight “deliberate attempts” by these forces to divide the country on communal lines.
Agitated Samajwadi Party members also stormed the well of the lower house disrupting the proceeding.
As soon as the house assembled, opposition MPs shouted slogans demanding the sacking of BJP leaders in the government who are accused of abetting the mosque demolition, including Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, Human Resources Development Minister M.M. Joshi and Coal and Mines Minister Uma Bharati.
Said Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP G.M. Banatwala: “It is now 10 years since the demolition of the Babri Masjid. The accused are still running scot-free. Three central ministers were involved. They have neither resigned nor were they removed”.
Opposition MPs said the BJP and its Hindu right-wing affiliates were vitiating the atmosphere throughout the country and disturbing communal harmony.
Meanwhile, police sounded a red alert in the town of Ayodhya yesterday.
Security was tightened in New Delhi and in Bombay ahead of the mosque-razing anniversary, which coincides with Eid celebrations.
Authorities also sounded a high security alert yesterday in the eastern state of Bihar.
Tensions rose as the right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said it would mark Friday as “Valor Day” in honor of Hindus killed while demolishing the mosque.
The VHP, an ideological mentor to the ruling party, appeared in no mood to stand down.
“We will be celebrating the anniversary as a day of Hindu revivalism and a new chapter in our campaign to build a temple on the site we have liberated,” a senior VHP leader declared.
However, the Election Commission yesterday restricted VHP’s proposed rally. The commission has also put curbs on the speeches of the VHP’s leaders during the rally to be held today.
Referring to the commission directives, Additional Commissioner of Police Satish Sharma said that steps have been taken to keep the “program” low-key to avoid any confrontation, which may disturb the peace and law and order situation in the state.
Meanwhile, a front-line Muslim forum stridently demanding the revival of a campaign to rebuild the three-domed Babri Mosque said it has told Muslim traders to shut their shops today in protest.
Police expected trouble in Uttar Pradesh state.
“We are fully prepared and have taken all precautions. Checks and road barriers have been made and 10 companies of the paramilitary force have been deployed for Dec. 6,” said Superintendent of Police Prashant Kumar.
In Bombay, police decided to deploy 25,000 policemen Friday in view of the anniversary as well as a bomb blast on a bus earlier this week that killed two and injured 36.
Joint Police Commissioner Javed Ahmad said that security was boosted yesterday, which marks the birthday celebrations of Babasaheb Ambedkar, the father of the constitution.
