New Delhi: Hours before the historic judgment in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case, the Uttar Pradesh police took to moderating discussion on the Ayodhya verdict on social media.
Looking to maintain peace, the UP police asked political commentator Shehzad Poonawalla and journalist Rana Ayyub early Saturday to delete their controversial posts on microblogging site Twitter.
The move came after Poonawalla, known for his staunch Right-wing views, asked Twitter users to retweet his post if they stand with “Shri Ram” and ignore if they are “sons of Babur”.
Within minutes, the Kausambhi police in UP warned Poonawalla to delete his tweet, stating that police action would be taken against him otherwise. Poonawalla, who was formerly associated with Maharashtra Congress, deleted the tweet out of “respect for the police”.
A similar action was initiated against Ayyub by the Amethi police. Her post mentioned the “othering of Muslims” following the “demolition of the Babri Masjid” in 1992.
“Tomorrow is a big day for India. Babri Masjid, a monument of faith for Indian Muslims was demolished on 6 December 1992 by those in power today. It changed my life and a generation of Muslims who were othered overnight. I hope my country does not disappoint me tomorrow,” wrote Ayyub.
The Amethi police immediately asked Ayyub to delete the post as it was a “political statement”. However, they later deleted their post. Ayyub, on the other hand, did not delete her tweet.
The UP government is on its toes in the wake of the Ayodhya verdict, with chief minister Yogi Adityanath issuing an advisory to the people to accept the Supreme Court verdict, irrespective of which side it goes in favour of.
Appeal for calm
Leaders across the board have also urged the country to accept the top court ruling and maintain “harmony”.
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “All the parties who have made efforts to create a harmonious and positive atmosphere in the past are welcome. Even after the decision of the court, we all have to maintain harmony together.”
PM's appeal to countrymen ahead of Ayodhya verdict. https://t.co/Qy27ZHFprn
via NaMo App
— narendramodi_in (@narendramodi_in) November 8, 2019
Other senior leaders like Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and members of the Hindu and Muslim communities have also made similar appeals.
(This report has been updated to reflect that the Amethi Police later deleted its tweet to Rana Ayyub)
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I do not understand why most Muslims are obsessed with mosques as if this is the only thing which defines their identity. hardly they have motivated their people to build a college or hospital, or even a library. No wonder they are always the last boy in the class.
Later they deleted the warning given to Ayyub and blocked but her tweet is still there.
Muslims always feel victimised even in the prosperous west, where they are well looked after by the respective governments.