Ayodhya: SP, Muslim community accuse VHP of creating tension

In the backdrop of two stone-laden trucks arriving in Ayodhya, Samajwadi Party today accused "saffron forces" of trying to disrupt communal harmony even as BSP supremo Mayawati said it is the responsibility of the state government to ensure peace.
Prominent members of the Muslim community also alleged that the VHP, which had almost six months ago announced its nationwide drive to collect stones for construction of Ram temple, is "openly making mockery of judiciary".
"Saffron forces are trying to create communal tension to divert public's attention from development works undertaken by the state government," Ayodhya MLA and State Forest Minister Tej Narain Pandey told PTI.

Reacting to the news of two stone-laden trucks reaching Ayodhya, BSP president Mayawati said, "It is the responsibility of the state government to maintain communal harmony amid increased activities of the saffron forces."
Vice-Chairman of Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) Mushtaq Ahmad Siddiqi feared the activities of the VHP may hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community and urged the state government to take preventive steps for maintaining peace and communal harmony.
Another member of BMAC, Haji Mahboob, warned "Muslims will also be bound to collect stones for the construction of Babri Masjid if the VHP is collecting stone for building Ram temple."

Babri Masjid case main plaintiff Hashim Ansari alleged that while Muslims are peacefully awaiting the court verdict, "the VHP was trying to flare up communal atmosphere (in Ayodhya)".
"If we want to repair a mosque in Ayodhya, the local administration doesn't allow us to. But the VHP is free to do anything which is a big threat to communal harmony," Haji Asad Ahmad, the only Muslim corporator in Ayodhya, said.