BABRI MASJID
BMMCC: Shahabuddin's Statement Observance of 5th Anniversary of Demolition, 11 November, 1997
After due consideration, the Babari Masjid Movement Coordination Committee (BMMCC) has decided that in view of the current political situation, the 5th Anniversary of the Demolition of the Babari Masjid on 6 December, 1997 should be observed in low key and no bandhs, rallies, processions or demonstration should be organised to mark the occasion.
However, all interested organisations and institutions including local units of the Babari Masjid Movement are advised to organise a signature campaign to a Petition to the President of India to request him for:
1) Day-to-day hearing by the Special Bench of the Allahabad High Court of the consolidated title Suit through full State support in service of summons to witnesses and their transport to and from Lucknow and stay in Lucknow.
2) Unconditional assurance by the Prime Minister to the Muslim community for the restoration of the Babari Masjid site, if the title suit is decided in its favour.
3) Expeditious hearing of the CBI Case against the RSS-VHP-BJP leaders pending before the Special Judge, Lucknow.
4) Expeditious hearing of the Ayodhya Inquiry by the Liberhan Commission of Inquiry in Delhi.
5) Expeditious hearing of the pending Contempt Case before the Supreme Court.
6) Take over of the complete responsibility by the Centre for the protection of the next targets on the VHP list - the Shahi Idgah Masjid, Mathura, and the Gyan Vapi Masjid, Varanasi.
7) Ban on VHP Activities in Ayodhya. The BMMCC has no objection if hall meetings at the local level are jointly organised by the interested organisations to adopt a Resolution on the above lines whose copies may be sent to the President, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. It is requested that this Appeal may be reproduced through handbills in various languages as widely as possible.
Shahabuddin's Letters to Home Minister, 24 September, 1997
According to the Hindustan Times, 24 September, 1997 during the visit of Chief Minister Kalyan Singh the district administration allowed entry into the make-shift temple which is a violation of the directive of the Supreme Court which allows darshan of the idol from a particular point and distance.
The BMMCC protects against this violation and requests you to instruct the Commissioner of Faizabad to follow the directive of the Supreme Court strictly and make no exceptions.
12 November, 1997
The VHP President Shri Ashok Singhal has given a call for Kar Sevaks to assemble in Ayodhya on 14 December, 1997. It has also decided to organise Sant Parikarma on 5 December 1997. The Kar Sevaks would then begin to assemble there from 5 December, 1997.
There is widespread apprehension in UP, particularly in Ayodhya and Faizabad, that supported the UP administration and police, the Kar Sevaks may try to enter the disputed site and began erection of columns on the concrete platform which, as you know, was constructed in July, 1992, to the east of the Babari Masjid, as a part of the foundation-base of the proposed Mandir.
I request you that:
a) The Government should ask VHP the object and purpose of the congregation.
b) The Government should ensure that no one is allowed to enter the security entrance, except as an individual Darshak, up to the specified point.
Why Apologise?
If we are to be ever apologising for our ancestors or disowning their actions there would be no end to it. Just think of the number of things we are doing now for which our descendants shall be apologising in another fifty years!
(Source: V. Dhagamwar's Letter in The Mainstream, 18 October, 1997)
