Andhra parties, Muslim groups appeal for peace
By IANSThursday, September 23, 2010
HYDERABAD - Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, leaders cutting across party lines and Muslim groups have appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony after Friday’s court verdict in the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi dispute.
Rosaiah has asked police to be vigilant and take all precautionary measures to deal with the situation after the Allahabad High Court gives its judgment. He appealed to the public, political leaders and elders of all communities to ensure that harmony prevails, said a statement from the chief minister’s office.
He said the court verdict on the issue should be accepted by all and no one should react in a manner that hurts the religious sentiments of other communities.
Rosaiah Thursday held a meeting with Director General of Police Aravinda Rao, Police Commissioner A.K. Khan and other top officials to review security arrangements across the state.
President of the state unit of the ruling Congress party D. Srinivas, opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) president K. Chiranjeevi and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi have also appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has also issued an appeal to Muslims to maintain peace no matter in whose favour the judgment goes. Board general secretary Moulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani urged the community not to show any reaction to the verdict.
Leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Movement for Peace and Justice, Majlis Tameer-e-Millat, Majlis Bachaco Tehreek and other Muslim organisations have also appealed for maintaining peace.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan said security measures taken for Ganesh idol immersions Wednesday would continue till Friday. More than 35,000 policemen were deployed for the procession.
Fifteen people who were sending provocative SMSes ahead of the court verdict have been identified and will be arrested, police say. The cyber crime wing of city police is investigating the case.
Khan told reporters that police were in touch with mobile phone service providers and would keep a close watch on those sending SMSes to several numbers simultaneously.
Appealing to people to maintain peace, Khan said the verdict should not be construed as the victory of one community over another. “Whatever be the verdict, it will not be a final one as one or both the parties will have the option of approaching the Supreme Court,” he said.
