Over 1,000 agitators held on Babri masjid demolition anniv

Hundreds of members of Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) staged protest in front of Coimbatore South Taluk office against demolition of the mosque. They urged the government to protect the religious rights of the minorities and termed the Ayodhya verdict as against the tenets of the Constitution.

In Chennai, members of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) staged demonstrations and human chain protest demanding the arrest of the persons involved in demolishing Babri Masjid and to construct a mosque at the place. The apex court verdict should be reviewed to preserve the rights of the minorities, demanded the protestors.

Around 375 persons, including 115 women were arrested for the protest in Coimbatore. Similarly, around 320 persons, including 121 women from SDPI were arrested for staging a protest at Aathupalam. Also around 177 SDPI members, including 83 women were held for protest in Mettupalayam. In Erode district a total of 404 members of Muslim outfits were arrested for protest against demolition of Babri Masjid.

The members of Hindu outfits however restrained from holding any protest after the Supreme Court recently gave a favourable verdict in the Ayodhya case.

Speaking to DT Next, SDPI leader SS Kani, said, “In the 1,528-page Supreme Court judgment the court has nowhere mentioned that the mosque was constructed after demolishing a Hindu temple and it has also pointed out that an idol was placed illegally in the mosque in 1949. The judgment also points out that the mosque was demolished illegally, but justice was denied to Muslims.”

Meanwhile, VMS Mustafa, founding president, Tamil Nadu Muslim League (TNML), in a statement, said, “India is a land known for its diversity, but BJP is functioning with the sole agenda of promoting communalism in the country. People, not just Muslims, but those who believe in the unity of the country should take pledge to throw BJP out of power.”

Police said the day passed off peacefully without any major law and order problems.