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Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow
Incensed by the forcible entry of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders into the makeshift Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee had decided to move the Supreme Court for relief.
"It was not merely a defiant and high-handed behaviour, but also a blatant violation of the orders of the Supreme Court by leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, who barged into the prohibited inner most quarters of the disputed site," Zafaryab Jilani, AIBMAC convenor told rediff.com.
In a related development, Bahujan Samaj Party vice president Mayawati too has demanded immediate arrest of all those who forced their way into the makeshift temple, that was erected on the debris of the razed Babri mosque.
"No matter how high and mighty the VHP fellows might be, they are not above Supreme Court, be it Ashok Singhal, Shrish Chandra Dixit or Praveen Togaria (all VHP leaders), they must be put behind bars," a visibly angry Mayawati told a press conference.
Jilani was of the view that a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court had, way back in 1994, directed the central and the state government to maintain status quo at the disputed site.
"No one other than the officially authorised priest was allowed to step into the sanctum sanctorum of the makeshift temple," Jilani said.
He added the UP government had itself sworn in an affidavit before the apex court that even the devotees would be allowed to offer prayers only from a distance of 30 feet.
"How and under what circumstances were the VHP leaders along with hundreds of their supporters allowed inside?" questioned Jilani.
Jilani felt the role of the commissioner, who is the official custodian of the disputed site, the district magistrate and local police officials needs to be probed.
He said, "It is important to draw the attention of the Supreme Court because Wednesday's incident is bound to set a bad precedent, since the authorities had allowed the trespassers and gate-crashers to get away."
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