Ayodhya judgement: We will abide by Supreme Court decision, says Maulana Arshad Madni

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has said that a section of media was involved in `rabble-rousing and propaganda` while reporting on the Ayodhya dispute which is sub-judice in the Supreme Court.

In a statement issued in Lucknow on Wednesday, the AIMPLB said: "A large section of the press, mainly electronic media, is involved in rabble-rousing and propaganda. Such coverage may help in spreading hatred and animosity among the citizens of the country."

It further said that except for some quarters of the press who have been fair, a very large section of media has started reporting the Ayodhya case in a manner that violated the basic principle of neutrality in reporting. The Board urged the media to stick to the advisory issued by the News Broadcasting Standards Association (NBSA) regarding the coverage of the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute.

"A matter which is pending before the Supreme Court must be reported in the press from a legal point of view without any adjective, personal opinion, prejudice, bias or emotional narrative in the garb of freedom of the press," the statement said.

We will abide by Supreme Court decision: Maulana Arshad Madni 

Ahead of the pronouncement of judgement on the Ram Janambhoomi- Babri masjid case, Maulana Arshad Madni, president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind in a press conference on Wednesday said that Babri Mosque was a mosque in terms of law and justice. 

The mosque existed for almost 400 years, therefore as per Sharia, it is still a mosque. Once a mosque is always a mosque, said Maulana Arshad Madni.

He, however said that "we will abide by the Supreme Court verdict based on evidence. Madani added that people from Kashmir to Kanyakumari are currently living in the atmosphare of fear.

Elaborate deployment of forces: Ayodhya SSP 

Meanwhile,  Ayodhya SSP Ashish Tiwari told ANI, "Elaborate deployment, intelligence network and confidence-building measures are in place. We've launched mobile application connecting 16,000 volunteers in 1,600 villages,10 volunteers each. We're also actively refuting rumours on social media."

The Ayodhya SSP said that security arrangements have been made to maintain law and order in the temple town, and confidence-building measures has been ensured to maintain law and order in the district. 

Earlier, District Magistrate Court had imposed Section-144 in the district in anticipation of a verdict in the title dispute case. The decision was also taken considering the upcoming festivals.Section 144 will be in effect till December 10, Ayodhya District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha had said in an order.

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Meanwhile, the Central government on Monday gave Uttar Pradesh almost 4000 extra Paramilitary personnel to maintain law and order situation in the state after the pronouncement of judgement on the Ram Janambhoomi- Babri masjid case. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) granted 15 companies of paramilitary forces to Uttar Pradesh immediately which will stay in the state till November 18. 

The Supreme Court is expected to pronounce its judgement in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case before November 17, when Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi would demit office.