AYODHYA: A Muslim community leader on Thursday (Jan 18) cautiously welcomed the impending opening of a grand Hindu temple in India's Ayodhya, saying the event should lay to rest the ghosts of past violence and usher in peace.
A large influx of pilgrims are pouring into Haji Asad Ahmad's hometown of Ayodhya for the inauguration of one of Hinduism's most sacred temples –- known as the Ram Mandir –- on Monday (Jan 22).
The Ram Mandir stands on what was once the site of the Babri mosque, which was razed by a Hindu mob in 1992, who said it was built on the site believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram, a deity worshipped by millions of Hindus. It triggered nationwide riots that killed 2,000 people.
In 2019, India's Supreme Court ordered that Hindus be allowed to build a temple there, ending years of litigation.
"Everybody is respecting the judgement," said Asad, also a local councillor whose grandfather, father and uncle were signatories for Muslim groups in legal battles over the ownership of the Ram Mandir site.
The 59-year-old hinted that tensions remain in Ayodhya decades after the 1992 riots, which saw some of his neighbours killed, but "everyone wants Ayodhya to develop. They do not want a situation that causes fear and panic."
Ayodhya is home to some three million people, including 500,000 Muslims.
Officials say at least one-tenth of these Muslims live in the immediate vicinity of the Ram Mandir, and some of these residents said they are still fearful of Hindus, especially visitors, because any incident could potentially escalate into a major event.
Authorities expect Ayodhya to receive 4.5 million Hindu pilgrims a month after the inauguration of the temple.
Ahmad said businesses owned by the local Muslim community would benefit from it.
The court order that allowed for the construction of the Ram Mandir also said authorities must set aside land for a mosque, and construction on that site, about 24km from the temple, is expected to start this year.
Asad highlighted tensions involving Muslim mosques and Hindu temples arising elsewhere in Mathura and Varanasi, and expressed hope history would not repeat itself in Ayodhya.
The Ram Mandir is expected to boost the chances of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 general elections, as it fulfills one of its main campaign promises. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself will inaugurate the temple on Monday. — Reuters