Ahead of VHP’s Dharma Sabha, Muslims in Ayodhya worry about safety, repercussions
Iqbal Ansari, one of the petitioners in the case relating to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, recently expressed concern over the security of his family members and the rest of the Muslim community in Ayodhya because of the congregation of a large number of people for the VHP’s event.
Muslims in Ayodhya are apprehensive about their safety and security after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) claimed it would mobilise over 200,000 people to attend the Dharma Sabha it is organising in the city on Sunday for the construction of a Ram temple on a disputed site .
Shiv Sena activists board a train for Ayodhya to attend Vishwa Hindu Parishad Dharma Sabha on Nov 25, at Thane Railway Station, Thursday, Nov 22, 2018. (PTI Photo)
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In Muslim neighbourhoods of Ayodhya, the only topic of discussion on Friday was the Dharma Sabha and its repercussions, if any, for the holy city.
“The government has assured us security. A large number of paramilitary personnel, along with local police, have been deployed. But we are still worried about our safety,” said Arshad Alam, 32, of Alamganj Katra, a Muslim locality. He is hoping the event will be peaceful.
The VHP is at the forefront of the campaign for a Ram temple to be built on the site of the 16th century Babri masjid that was destroyed by mobs in December 1992. The organisation says the site marks the birthplace of the Hindu warrior-god.
Iqbal Ansari, one of the petitioners in the case relating to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, recently expressed concern over the security of his family members and the rest of the Muslim community in Ayodhya because of the congregation of a large number of people for the VHP’s event. “The Muslim community in Ayodhya is worried about its safety and security. We hope that any untoward incident does not take place in Ayodhya,” said Ansari. “The state government and the local administration has also assured us full security. I hope everything passes off peacefully,” he said.
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Abdul Khalid, 48, of Mughalpura Colony, said: “I hope that the situation does not spiral out on control on Sunday,” said Khalid.
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Abdul Khalid, 48, of Mughalpura Colony, said: “I hope that the situation does not spiral out on control on Sunday,” said Khalid.
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The Shiv Sena’s ‘Ashirwad Sammelan’ on Saturday, in which party chief Uddhav Thackeray will take part, has also added to the anxiety of the Muslims, who are preparing to stay indoors for the next two days.
Pawan Dixit, Assistant Editor, brings over 20 years of frontline reporting experience to the newsroom. A specialist on Uttar Pradesh politics and governance, he has reported from the ground across the state’s most consequential stories. He cut his teeth in eastern UP, spending 15 years covering the region. Based in Varanasi, he reported the 2012 UP Assembly polls and the 2014 Lok Sabha elections that reshaped the state’s political map. Moving to Lucknow in 2016, he has since led coverage of the 2017 and 2022 UP Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. His reporting tracks the BJP’s strategy, opposition moves, and voter sentiment across all 75 districts. Pawan has been a constant presence in Ayodhya since 2016. He reported the entire arc of the Ram Mandir movement — from the legal fight to the Supreme Court verdict, through temple construction, to the inauguration. He continues to track every development at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. On the state beat, he covers the BJP, the Industrial Development Department, and handles key outstation political assignments. He also reports major cases from the district court, Lucknow bench of the High Court, and the State Information Commission. Along with this, he also reports on NGT's important decisions related to UP. Known for sharp sourcing and clear analysis, Pawan connects politics, policy, infrastructure and faith — the forces driving UP today. He has reported developments in Ayodhya and Ram Mandir movement since 2016. The Supreme Court's Ram Mandir verdict, temple construction and the its opening have been reported by him.
He reports all developments in Ayodhya and Ram Mandir Trust.
He covers state BJP, Industrial development department, outstation political assignments, reports special cases from district court, high court and state information commission
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