BABARI MASJID
"The national tragedy of the demolition of Babari Masjid on 6 December, 1992 can be traced back to the night of 22-23 December, 1949 when idols were planted in the open court of the Masjid, under the cover of darkness, in an act of unlawful trespass. This act of illegality was legalized the injunction issued by a local magistrate against the removal of the idols and by the continuance of the injunction even after its statutory life had elapsed by executive fiat. Simultaneously, the Masjid was declared out-of-bound for the Muslims. Thus the Masjid was converted into a defacto Mandir with a Pujari performing religious rites, although the idols could not, in law, be considered as deities because the installation rites had never been performed.
On 22 December, 1995 falls the 46th anniversary of the first assault on the sanctity of the Masjid by the forces of Hindu revanchism and chauvinism.
On this occasion, the AIMPLB, BMC, the BMMCC and the AIBMAC, jointly propose that the congregations in all mosques must recall the unlawful occupation of the Masjid at the time of the Namaz-e-Juma and pray to the Almighty for the restoration of the Babari Masjid site and the reconstruction of the Masjid thereon.
The Friday congregations should also remind the Central Government of the unanimous demand of the Muslim community and the secular forces by a telegram whose text suggested below.
"The Friday Congregation in Masjid in demands
· immediate removal of illegal makeshift temple on Babari Masjid site;
· reconstruction of Babari Masjid in accordance with statutory principle of restitution, subject to judicial decision on title;
· expeditious hearing of title suit by Special Bench of Allahabad High Court, pending contempt cases and appeals by Supreme Court, inquiry by Liberhan Commission and criminal cases by Special Court;
· Unequivocal assurance by the Prime Minister that if title suit is decided in favour of Muslim community, the Babari Masjid site shall be restored to them; and
· Prosecution of VHP leaders for promoting Hindu fanaticism, generating hatred against Muslims and threatening Muslims with more demolitions and
· even genocide"
Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait, MP
Convener, AIMPLB-BMC
Syed Shahabuddin, MP
Convener, BMMCC
Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, MP
President, AIBMAC
Joint Statement of Prominent Personalities on 3rd Anniversary of Demolition
There are certain events in the history of our nation which we will do well not to forget. Some due to their positive contributions and others because of the dangers they represent. The demolition of the Babari Masjid on December 6, 1992, by a crowd of Hindu fanatics in the presence of the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party belongs to the latter. Recalling to memory this reprehensible crime and its implications is necessary to guard against the possible recurrence of this violence elsewhere.
As in Ayodhya, in Kashi and Mathura the Vishwa Hindu Parishad is acting as the advance guard and the BJP indulges in its familiar double-talk. The Jalabhishek at Kashi and Mahayagnya at Mathura are reminiscent of similar symbolic acts at Ayodhya. Committed to installing a party at the Centre, which has been defaming Hinduism in the name of Hindutva, as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad is, these may as well be the precursors to what is in store during the run-up to the elections. The Mahayagnya at Mathura had almost provoked a communal riot; worse might happen if we are not vigilant.
Ayodhya has done great damage to democratic and secular foundations of the republic. December 6 should remind us the need to assert in defense of the principle of democracy and secularism without which the nation will find it difficult to survive.
P.N. Haksar Romila Thapar Habib Tanvir
Bhisham Sahni Namwar Singh K.N. Panikkar
(Source: The Times of India, 6 December, 1995)
Ansar Harvani's Letter on Post-Partition Excesses
I wish to draw the attention of the Government of India and the leaders of the Muslim community, who are engrossed with protecting the Muslim personal law, to the plight of thousands of Indian Muslims whose houses are still in illegal possession...It may be recalled that most of the property of the community in North India was declared evacuee property by the Home Minster in Nehru's Government following Partition.
To cite a few examples, there were the properties of Prof. K.G. Saiydain, a well-known educationist and Secretary to the Government of India, and Muslim nationalist, and K.A. Abbas, author, film-maker and journalist. In Delhi itself the prime properties of Sulaiman Japanwala, the Marina Hotel and Haleem Yar Jung's Hameed Manzil in Daryaganj were declared evacuee properties.
Mr. N.V. Gadgil, a close associate of Vallabhai Patel, who was Minister of Works and Housing in the Nehru Government, in his autobiography justifies the possession of many mosque by refugees from Pakistan.
(Source: The Pioneer, 28 November, 1995)
