Ayodhya: Over 3500 Muslims fled the city ahead of VHP’s Dharma Sabha and Thackeray’s visit 

In the wake of the Dharma Sabha called by the VHP in Ayodhya on November 25, and ahead of Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray’s visit on Saturday November 24, the Muslims living in and around Ayodhya have been gripped with fear once again.

The grim shadow of 1992 is looming large over the city. National Herald talked to the Muslims of Ayodhya and almost all of them talked about the fear and uncertainty they are living with.

The city is coloured saffron with the saffron flags and posters announcing and welcoming the Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray in Ayodhya.

Iqbal Ansari, one of the main litigants in the Ayodhya land dispute case says that the Muslims of Ayodhya are scared . They are fleeing from the city, “because we have no option. We have submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate and have requested him to provide police protection to people.”

According to Ansari more than 3,500 Muslims have fled from Mughalpura, Asharfi Bhawan, Gola Ghat and Tedhi areas of Ayodhya. Shahid who is a friend of Iqbal Ansari said, “There are almost 5000 Muslims in Ayodhya and more than half of them have left the city. We have sent our children, women and older people away.”

Right in front of Iqbal Ansari’s house, there is a huge and intimidating hoarding announcing Uddhav Thackeray’s arrival in the city:

Iqbal Ansari says without mixing words that he wants a compromise struck through the court, “because there is no way left now for out of court settlement. Through media this proposal for out of court settlement came to us. But that’s it. Neither the government nor anyone else has as yet approached us for this kind of talk.”

“They say they will build a mosque in Lucknow but we can’t accept it, because there are other issues like that also. The entire Muslim community is involved in this matter. After Ayodhya, they will talk about Gyanvapi in Kashi and Mathura also.”

You can watch Iqbal Ansari’s interview here:

26-years-old Haji Mohd Sajid said everyone in Ayodhya is scared and wants to leave the city :