Temporal July 5, 2005

Tags: Ayodhya , terrorists , Hindu , Muslim

target="_blank">Six terrorists die in attack on Ayodhya temple
Lucknow | July 05, 2005 5:44:57 PM IST
Lucknow, July 5 : Six suspected Islamist terrorists were killed Tuesday when Indian security forces foiled an apparent attack near a small Hindu temple in Ayodhya built on the ruins of a 16th-century mosque razed in 1992.

While five terrorists were shot dead after a short gun battle, the sixth apparently blew himself up in the Uttar Pradesh town on the bank of Saryu river, officials here and in New Delhi said

Hindu Hardliners Blame Pakisatn
Hindu hardliners blamed Pakistan for the terror strike, with Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) firebrand Pravin Togadia calling upon New Delhi to suspend its peace talks with Islamabad

Hindu, Muslim bodies condemn attack
Tuesday July 5 2005 13:31 IST
NEW DELHI: Hindu and Muslim groups condemned the terrorist attack in Ayodhya in which six terrorists were killed following a three-hour gun battle.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the country’s most influential Hindu group, abruptly interrupted a meeting of its leaders at Surat in Gujarat to flay what they said was the lack of adequate security at Hindu religious places.

Muslim organisations also condemned the attack.

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, president of the Islamic Centre, said: "If people who indulge in violence think they will gain anything out of their action, they are absolutely wrong.

"If they really want to solve the issues between the two communities, they should give up arms and end the enmity."

Wahiduddin Khan feared that such incidents would impact communal harmony and peace.

Sinha Cautions

Sinha said it was too early to say who was involved.

’’We will fix responsibility and take corrective action,’’ said Arun Kumar Sinha, a senior local official unrelated to the home secretary.

Brief Chronology

More Background

Mark Tully’s Eyewitness Account in 1992

Questions to consider:

- Why did it come now?
- What was the aim of the attackers?
- Did the BJP meeting at Surat and the Kulkarni resignation have anything to do with this?
- Who benefits most if the peace process is hindered or rolled back?
- How soon will calm prevail?

There are more troubling queries.

Are we ordained not to live in peace? Can the ordinary people in India (and Pakistan) ever look forward to peaceful days?

Only a period of relative calm will induce economic prosperity to gain firmer foothold. And with economic empowerment hopefully will come added stability, prosperity and tolerance.

What selfish forces do not want that to happen?