Ayodhya, Dec 6 (IANS) The 17th anniversary of the Babri mosque’s demolition Sunday evoked little response from the people of Ayodhya and remained a “private affair” in this ancient temple town as authorities had banned any public assembly on grounds of security.
While the Vishwa Hindu Parisdhad (VHP) marked it as “Shaurya Diwas (Valour day)”, the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) observed it as a “black day”. However, for both organisations, it remained strictly “private” with negligible participation of local people.

The day began with the celebration by a group of saffron-clad sadhus inside the precincts of the Karsewakpuram - a camp run by VHP, which observes Dec 6 as the “Shaurya Diwas”. However, less than 200 sadhus turned up for the event.

The programme was led by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ram Vilas Vedanti, who has been associated with the Ayodhya movement for decades.

With him Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, who heads the Ramjanmbhoomi Trust - entrusted with the task of building a grand Ram temple on the debris of the mosque where a makeshift temple has been in place since the demolition.

VHP’s popular slogan - “Ram Lalla Hum aye hain; Mandir wahin banayenge” (Lord Ram, We have come and will build the temple there only) - rent the air as a few sadhus loudly reiterated their resolve to build a “grand Ram temple” in place of the makeshift one.

However, Bajrang Dal founder and former local MP Vinay Katiyar chose to keep away from the VHP show. He instead decided to observe the day as “Sachai Diwas” (the day of truth) at his own residence, where a hundred-odd BJP supporters turned up.

Haji Mehboob of the BMAC led a protest meeting outside his Ayodhya residence with BMAC activists wearing black ribbons. Shops and commercial establishments owned by Muslims remained closed and many displayed black flags.

Faizabad’s Senior Superintendent of Police R.K.S.Rathore described the day as “absolutely peaceful”.

Posting himself within the precincts of the disputed site for most of the day, Rathore told IANS that the there was been no untoward incident in any part of the district.

“Demonstrations by different organisations were held at the private premises of the respective groups as no congregation of people was allowed in any public place.”

However, the heightened security did not pose any hurdle for the devotees, whose flow at the makeshift temple continued unhindered.