Date:26/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/26/stories/2006072626270300.htm

New Delhi

Proposed bullet-proof wall at Ayodhya opposed

Staff Reporter

Muslim leaders submit a memorandum to President

NEW DELHI: The Deputy Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, Shoaib Iqbal, on Tuesday led a delegation of prominent Muslims from the Capital and presented a memorandum to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam expressing anguish and dismay over the reported move to build a bullet-proof steel wall around the makeshift Ram Temple at Ayodhya.

In its memorandum to the President, the delegation demanded that the United Progressive Alliance Government withdraw the application filed before Supreme Court seeking permission to raise a bullet-proof steel air-conditioned wall. Expressing concern over the application filed by the UPA Government, Mr. Iqbal said this move had cast aspersions on the secular credentials of the Congress-led UPA Government.

Status quo

Terming the move as an attempt to disrupt the status quo and peace in the region, the delegation told the President that the application was an act of discrimination to favour one party in the sensitive case and such a situation should be avoided.

Mr. Iqbal said the security forces without the bullet-proof wall successfully foiled the recent terrorist attack and putting forward such an application was an act of mala fide intention.