Hindus and Muslims appeal for peace post-verdict

With the date of pronouncement of the Allahabad high court judgment in the Ayodhya dispute drawing near, religious leaders and scholars the Hindu and Muslim communities have appealed for peace and communal harmony.

Leading Muslim religious leaders, including Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, naib imam of Idgah and member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangimahli, besides Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband have asked Muslims to respect the verdict of the court and maintain communal harmony.

"Peace is of prime importance and we have made the Muslims aware of it at every level in discourses and appeals that communal harmony should be maintained, so as to check vested interests from taking advantage of the situation," Firangimahli told PTI.

Kalbe Jawwad asked community members to be weary of political leaders who would try to take advantage of the situation to serve their ulterior motives.

Darul Uloom Deoband had on Thursday appealed to the people to respect the verdict of the court and maintain peace and communal harmony in the country.

The main pujari of the Ram Janambhoomi temple in Ayodhya, Acharya Satyendra Das Mahraj, and Mahant of Janki Ghat in Ayodhya, Janmey Sharan, have also asked the community to remain calm and accept the verdict of the court.

Satyendra Das, appointed main pujari by the court, had also taken part in the iftaar function recently to strengthen communal amity.

"In case the verdict is against the aspirations of any individual or party in the case, he is free to approach the Supreme Court," Firangimahli said, adding that there should not be any reaction to it in society or on streets.