PANAJI: With the Allahabad High Court set to deliver its judgement in the title suit of the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid case sooner than later, the religious leaders of different communities and others in the state have appealed for peace and calm.
The president of the Federation of Muslim Jamaats and Associations, Mr M K Shaikh has appealed to the members of all communities to exercise maximum restraint and not to give an opportunity to the communal forces at work to derive advantage from the situation arising out of the Allahabad High Court verdict in the matter of dispute of Ram Janambhoomi–Babri Masjid.
Appealing to the people of the state to exercise utmost constraint and respect the verdict in true spirit of nationalism Mr Shaikh has said: "We all should bear in mind that no problem can be solved through violence and, therefore, it is necessary to maintain peace which is essential for progress of all communities."
Further, he has said that it was natural for one of the parties in the dispute to be dissatisfied with verdict and has called the aggrieved party to approach the Apex Court for redressal of its grievance and not to resort to any act that would be in contravention of the spirit of nationalism shown by both Hindus and Muslims.
He has further stated that Goa has been known for communal harmony and co-existence for centuries and has been a role model for the rest of the country. "This tradition should be carried forward and we should be ready to pay any price for maintaining the traditional peace in the state," he has stated in a press note.
Appealing the people of the state not to give any reaction on the court verdict, especially the "winning party," Mr Shaikh has called upon the citizens of the state not to organise celebrations by holding processions which may provoke the other party to react, resulting in unwanted situation.
Meanwhile, the general secretary of the Association of All Goa Muslim Jamaats, Mr Salim Kazi, has also appealed to the people of the state to maintain peace that has been existing traditionally in the state, even as he called on the people to work together and channelise the resources to maintain peace and work for the progress of the country.
Urging the people to respect the judicial system and the outcome of the decades old case before the court, he has appealed to the people to work together for the welfare of the common man and desist from celebrating the outcome of the case. "Let peace be the victor, he has said.
The state chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Mr Subhash Velingkar has said that the RSS has not issued any related circular in Goa yet. "There is no public appeal or anything of that sort, which we have released in Goa," he added. Meanwhile, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has questioned the media itself as to whether all the concerned stakeholders in the Ayodhya case are ready for any verdict and would accept the verdict as it comes.
