Babri Masjid demolition — ‘Black Day’ for ‘secular’ India

ANKARA (AA) – On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the demolition of the historic Indian Babri Masjid by a fanatical Hindu mob, India’s prominent Muslim leaders said that December 6 will forever remain a “Black Day” for Indian democracy.

On December 6, 1992, the 16th-century Babri Mosque in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya was brought down by Hindu extremist, who claimed the site was the birthplace of lord Ram.

“6th December will forever remain a Black Day for Indian democracy. The desecration and demolition of #BabriMasjid is a symbol of injustice,” India’s leading Muslim politician and President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Asaduddin Owaisi, wrote on Twitter. “Those responsible for its destruction were never convicted. We will not forget it & we will ensure that future generations remember it too.”

Asma Zehra Tayeba, a member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board – an apex umbrella scholar body in India – tweeted: “Fall of Babri masjid and conditions of Muslims in the last 30 yrs need introspection.”

Security arrangements were tightened in the city of Ayodhya on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the demolition.

‘Growing anti-Muslim frenzy’

Neighbouring Muslim state Pakistan also commemorates the event annually. Pakistani officials noted how anti-Muslim sentiment in India has been growing ever since.

“We condemn the ongoing construction of a Hindu temple on the site of the demolished mosque, and the acquittal of the criminals responsible for its destruction,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has said.

The ministry demanded that the Indian government ensure that the “Babri Mosque is rebuilt on its original site” and the criminals responsible for its “destruction are awarded befitting punishment.”

“Hindu supremacist groups in India are demanding conversion of some other mosques into temples, including the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi. These demands might lead to more tragedies like that of Babri Mosque,” the ministry said. “There is a persistent assault on the religious freedoms of Indian Muslims. The ruling party in India continues to incite hysteria and hatred against Muslims.”

In November 2019, India’s top court ruled that the historical site of the early 16th century Babri Masjid will be handed over to Hindus for the construction of the Ram temple.

The Indian Supreme Court had also ruled then that a “suitable plot” of land measuring 5 acres would be allotted to the government-controlled Sunni Waqf Board either by the central government or provincial government to construct a mosque.

However, no progress has been made on the ruling since then.

Built in 1528 under the rule of the first Mughal emperor Babur, the Masjid along with a land of 2.77 acres in India’s central province of Uttar Pradesh was demolished by a group of radical Hindus in 1992. Hindus claim lord Ram was born at the site of the Masjid.