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Ayodhya firing incident

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Bodies of dead kar sevaks
Ayodhya dispute
Organizations

The Uttar Pradesh police opened fire at civilians because they were heading to demolish the Babri Masjid on two separate days, 30 October 1990 and 2 November 1990, in the aftermath of the Ram Rath Yatra. The civilians were religious volunteers, or kar sevaks, assembled near the Ram Janmabhoomi site at Ayodhya. The state government's official records report that at least 17 people were killed.[1][2][3]

Background

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In September 1990, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the Shiv Sena started an official campaign for the Ram Temple to be rebuilt at the Ram Janmabhoomi site. The situation became volatile, with L. K. Advani conducting rath yatra and the VHP mobilizing people to the site. The state government, under Mulayam Singh Yadav, promised protection and a complete lockdown of the site and city.[4] Yadav reassured the public: "No bird would be able to fly into Ayodhya".[5][6]

Timeline

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21 October 1990

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Volunteers, or kar sevaks, first assembled in Ayodhya at the behest of L. K. Advani of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Ashok Singhal of the VHP, on 21 October 1990.[7]

30 October 1990

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Called "the D-Day of Karseva", 30 October saw the start of unprecedented security arrangements. Police barred all bus and train services to Ayodhya. Most kar sevaks reached Ayodhya by foot; some swam across the Sarayu river. The police also barricaded the 1.5 km-long climb to the disputed structure and imposed a curfew. According to the investigatory Liberhan Commission report, issued after the event:

At around 10am, a large group of kar sevaks headed towards the site, led by Vamadev, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, and Ashok Singhal of the VHP. Ashok Singhal was wounded on the head by a police baton. This altercation led to a mob frenzy and open confrontation between civilians and police officers.

At around 11am, a Hindu holyman or sadhu managed to gain control of an Armed Constabulary bus in which the police were holding detainees. The sadhu drove the bus right through the barricades, clearing a way for the others to follow on foot. The security forces were caught off guard and were forced to chase about 5,000 kar sevaks, who stormed through the heavily guarded site.[5][8] According to eyewitnesses the Kothari brothers mounted a saffron flag atop the Babri Masjid.[9]

1 November 1990

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Hindu groups took a day to cremate and pay homage to the lives lost on 1 November.

2 November 1990

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Assembled kar sevaks offered prayers (Pooja) at Ramlila on the morning of 2 November and then proceeded to Babri Masjid. Members of the crowd used the strategy of touching security personnel's feet, which made them withdraw a step. This worked for a while, and the procession continued. However, the police took firm action by using tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd.[6] Nevertheless, some contingents of kar sevaks reached and partially damaged the mosque.

Aftermath

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News of the shootings was mostly suppressed from the Indian media, but some local and international media outlets mentioned them.[10][11][12][13][14] The firing incident had a significant impact on Uttar Pradesh and on Indian national politics.

The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh was given the sobriquet 'Mulla' Mulayam Singh for his stance during the incident. He lost the 1991 election to the Bharatiya Janata Party. After that, in the 4 December 1993 election, Mulayam Singh Yadav became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh with the help of Kanshiram.[15][16] he described his decision to fire on the crowd in Ayodhya as "painful yet necessary as it was ordered by the high court to maintain peace, law and order till the judgement come out."[17]

People of the Hindu community arranged a memorial meeting for the dead Karsevaks on April 4, 1991, at the Boat Club, New Delhi, which attracted a large audience.[18][19] They also launched a nationwide awareness program displaying the Asthi Kalash (funeral urns) of those who died in the firing incident.[3][20] In the following years, these organizations and their prominent leaders received both political and moral endorsement.

On 6 December 1992, a large group of kar sevaks completely demolished Babri Masjid.

References

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  1. ^ Subudhi, Bibek Krishna (12 November 2019). "Ayodhya verdict". www.currentaffairsnight.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Shriram Janmabhumi Mukti Andolan 2 | Vishva Hindu Parishad | Official Website". vhp.org. Archived from the original on 22 July 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b Scharada Dubey (2012). Portraits from Ayodhya. Tranquebar Press. p. 71. ISBN 9789381626214. Retrieved 24 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "It is wholly needless. Why all this tamasha about Ayodhya?: Devi Lal : Voices – India Today 15111990". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 15 November 1990. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Ayodhya massacre of Hindu devotees in 1990 which no media will talk about | Internet Hindu". Internethindu.in. 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  6. ^ a b "We fall, get up and march forward". Livemint.com. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ "Cold blooded massacre of kar sewaks in Ayodhya". Ancient India. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  9. ^ Nath, Sujit (5 December 2017). "Martyrs or Victims: Kothari Brothers Who Laid Down Their Lives for Ram Mandir". News 18. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  10. ^ "October 31, 1990 – Indian troops kill 5 Hindus in mosque | Chicago Tribune Archive". Archives.chicagotribune.com. 31 October 1990. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  11. ^ Barbara Crossette (31 October 1990). "20 Die in India as Hindus Storm Disputed Mosque". The New York Times. Iraq; Kuwait; Middle East. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ Virk, Aviral (1 February 2017). "Ayodhya Part 6: The Making of "Mullah Mulayam"". The Quint. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Ayodhya braces for a showdown as Akhilesh's govt bans VHP yatra". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Decision to order firing in Ayodhya painful: Mulayam Singh Yadav". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Shriram Janmabhumi Mukti Andolan 1 | Vishva Hindu Parishad | Official Website". Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  19. ^ "VHP gains strength with each passing day, poised to play key role in coming polls : Special Report – India Today 30041991". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 30 April 1991. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  20. ^ "Chapter-Iv" (PDF). Shodganga.inflibnet.ac.in. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
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