Babri Masjid Demolition: Pakistan has urged the international community to protect the religious heritage of Muslims across the globe. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi speaking at the anniversary of the demolition of the centuries-old Babri Masjid in Ayodhya said Babri Masjid is etched in our collective memory.
Andrabi further remarked it is important that all acts undermining Muslim religious symbols or historical legacy must be addressed with accountability, transparency, and a firm commitment to justice.
Interestingly, many Hindu and Buddhist temples in Pakistan have been shattered in the past by Muslims. Surprisingly, Pakistan believes people from other religions and countries will protect Muslim heritage when it is deliberately erasing other religions and cultures from its own country.
Reasons Behind Babri Masjid Demolition
Mir Baqi built the Babri Masjid between September 1528 and September 1529 CE on the orders of Mughal Emperor Babur. He constructed the Masjid on the site of a temple dedicated to Lord Ram, a revered deity in Hinduism.
On December 6, 1992, a group of karsevaks from across the country gathered in Ayodhya and used tools such as hammers, iron rods, ropes, and pickaxes to demolish the Babri Masjid.
The demolition of the Babri Masjid triggered widespread communal violence across the country.
Supreme Court Ruling
In 2019, the Supreme Court of India awarded the entire 2.77-acre disputed land to the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust for the construction of the Ram temple. The SC also directed the ruling government to allot 5 acres of land to the Sunni Waqf Board for a mosque, somewhere else in Ayodhya.
Ram Mandir’s Consecration
Indian PM Narendra Modi attended the consecration of the Ram Mandir on January 22, 2024, joining thousands of seers, politicians, Bollywood celebrities, prominent athletes, business moguls, dignitaries, and religious followers. Media outlets and organizers widely publicized and heavily marketed the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
A day after the inauguration, nearly 300,000 devotees visited the temple to have darshan of the newly installed murti of Ram Lalla, depicted as a five-year-old Ram.
