Christian council appeals for calm ahead of Babri verdict

A leading Christian council in the country has appealed for calm ahead of the court verdict on the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute.

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) called for calm and urged all citizens to exercise "political maturity" in the run-up of the Allahabad High Court verdict on Friday, September 24.

The NCCI, representing over 13 million Protestant and Orthodox Christians, requested people to "help in diffusing possible situations of tension and in being vigilant against any initiative to provoke communal tension, which may even be through spreading rumours."

"As an extension to localising the observance of International Peace Day on September 21, the NCCI encourages all its constituents including Regional Councils of Churches, All India Christian Organisations and Related Agencies to involve in activities that promote communal harmony including activities such as organising Peace Corps for vigilance on the 24th September," the Council said a statement.

The Council urged law enforcement agencies to deal with the situation professionally and without bias; and ensure protection of all life and places of historical and religious importance, particularly those of importance to the minority communities in India.

"May this be our prayer that India, the cradle of all civilisations and the crucible of world religions, will show the world that living together is possible even while affirming our identities and uniqueness," the statement concluded.

Across the country, security has been tightened to maintain law and order and to prevent anti-social elements from disturbing peace.

In Maharashtra, the state government has deployed its reserve police force and about 2,00,000 policemen. The state had witnessed riots following the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, 1992.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan Tuesday held a series of meetings with media persons, religious leaders and politicians to ward off any tension.

On Friday, the court will rule who owns land in the northern town of Ayodhya, where the 16th Century Babri mosque was destroyed by Hindu mobs, leading to the worst Hindu-Muslim violence since the partition of India. Some 2,000 people died in the riots.

Since 1950, five title suits were filed in the Allahabad HC staking claim to the plot of land, making it the longest-running legal battle in India.

Card Oswald Gracias, head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, hopes Friday's verdict would be "fair and accepted by all".

He urged Church to play a role in building tolerance and respect among religions.