The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court will pronounce its judgment on the 60-year-old Ayodhya title suits on September 24. Both the Centre and the Mayawati government have been worried about the political fallout and the possibility of communal tension erupting in the wake of the court verdict.
In a fresh request, the Mayawati government has asked the Centre for 63,000 additional paramilitary personnel to deal with any law and order problems that may arise after the verdict.
UP has requested the ministry of home affairs (MHA) to make available Central forces before the verdict to tighten security. The MHA has already prepared a contingency plan. It has issued an advisory to all states and Union Territories to give topmost priority to law and order. The MHA also informed the states and UTs of the activities of various religious groups which have already announced a countrywide mass mobilisation and awareness campaign in view of the forthcoming court verdict. The home ministry has asked paramilitary forces, including the CRPF and Rapid Action Force, to be ready with reinforcements as and when needed by states for deployment in sensitive areas prior to the verdict.
Maintaining that the court verdict “is likely to evoke sharp reactions and communal passions among both Hindus and Muslims, depending on the way the judgment goes”, the ministry has asked the states and UTs to keep a close watch on the activities of religious bodies of both communities in the run-up to the judgment.