Babri anniv: Ayodhya remains calm amid tight security measures

Ayodhya (UP): The 27th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on Friday remained a low-key affair with both Hindu and Muslim religious leaders downplaying the occasion amid tight security measures.

Life went on as normal in different parts of the city with schoolchildren and morning walkers taking to streets and businesses opening at their usual time.

In the evening, the administration in a statement here said, "Peace prevailed in the entire division of Ayodhya on December 6. The Friday namaaz was held peacefully in an atmosphere of amity. Police and administrative officials thanked people of Ayodhya, seers and the media for contributing to the maintenance of peace."

Officials also hoped that the Ganga-Jamuni culture be maintained throughout the length and breadth of the country, the statement said.

While right-wing Hindu organisations in the past ''celebrated" the occasion as "Shaurya Diwas" to mark the demolition of the mosque in 1992, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) decided against it this year.

Senior priest of Hanumangarhi temple Raju Das said that the day should now be marked as the ''day of amity''.

"The temple is witnessing a regular flow of devotees. It is a normal day for us. We are observing this day as 'sauhaard diwas' (day of amity)," he said.

Raju Das said the programme to lit lamps, which was decided earlier in the morning, was cancelled.

He did not give any reasons for it.

"In the afternoon, we organised a religious at the Shri Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas workshop," he said.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said while the anniversary of the demolition was a day of mourning for Muslims, it was "up to individuals" if they wanted to observe ''yaum-e-gham'' (day of sorrow).