PM appeals for calm, PC reviews security
The delay in the Ayodhya title suit verdict, originally slated for September 24 and now fixed for pronouncement on September 30, has irked the security establishment which is already stretched for the Commonwealth Games beginning October 3. Amid apprehensions of trouble after the Ayodhya title suit verdict, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on Tuesday appealed to the countrymen to maintain peace and harmony irrespective of the nature of the judgment. “I think whatever be the nature of judgment, I think everyone should make every effort to maintain peace, harmony and tranquillity in the country,” Dr Singh told reporters after releasing a book at his residence here.
Meanwhile, a senior security official said that any communal flareup or untoward incident at this time will not only send a bad signal during the international sporting event, but stretch the security forces which are already tightly deployed in the national capital and other sensitive areas across the country.
While the Mayawati-led government in Uttar Pradesh has fanned out security forces and issued strict directions to maintain peace, it is states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Kerala where the security establishment feels there could be law and order trouble following the Ayodhya verdict on September 30. An official said that the verdict should either have come on September 24 or delayed till after the Games.
Home minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday reviewed the security arrangements being put in place ahead of the September 30 verdict in a meeting with top officials of his ministry and took stock of the situation and plans drawn up to meet any eventuality.
He also visited his ministry’s control room and integrated operations centre to review their functioning. Security forces have been kept on standby at 16 strategic locations across the country while IAF aircraft like IL-76 have been kept on standby at eight locations which include Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Bagdogra and Delhi.
The Centre has also decided to extend the ban on bulk SMSes and MMSes till September 30 and even few days later to avoid trouble makers and rumour mongers from fomenting trouble during the period.
A total of 32 locations have been identified across the country where it apprehends trouble.
The home ministry issued its fourth advisory to states and Union Territories on Monday night asking them to give “top priority” to law and order.
In its advisory, the ministry has asked states to keep the forces on high alert as the judgment could trigger “sharp reactions and communal passions among both Hindus and Muslims depending on the way the judgment goes”.
Mr Chidambaram has already appealed for peace and advised against any hasty conclusion that one side has won or the other has lost in the Allahabad high court verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suits.
Post new comment