PM appeals for peace after Ayodhya verdict

NEW DELHI: Amid apprehensions of trouble after the Ayodhya title suit verdict, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday appealed to the countrymen to maintain peace and harmony irrespective of the nature of the judgement.

"I think whatever be the nature of judgement, I think everyone should make every effort to maintain peace, harmony and tranquility in the country," Singh told reporters after releasing a book at his residence here.

Singh was asked about his message to the countrymen in view of the sensitive judgement on Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suits to be delivered by Allahabad High Court on Thursday. He said his message was contained in the appeal issued by Cabinet over a week ago.

Wary of extreme reactions, the Cabinet had adopted a resolution which said that the judicial recourse will not end till all sections are satisfied and further legal remedies would be available.

"There should be no attempt whatsoever made by any section of the people to provoke any other section or to indulge in any expression of emotion that would hurt the feelings of other people," the resolution had said.

Congress, too, on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court order, and made a similar appeal for peace.

The party said while its first priority was a negotiated settlement, it would accept the court verdict in the absence of a solution through dialogue.

"I welcome the decision on behalf of the party," Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said. "The party has always maintained that the solution to the dispute should be found through talks or the decision of the court should be respected," he said.

Urging all concerned to keep a close vigil against provocations, he said it was everybody's concern to ensure that no untoward incidents happened.

Another party leader Digvijay Singh cautioned the Sangh Parivar against `stoking up' passions. Admitting that Ayodhya was an emotive issue, he said, "I hope the BJP would realise that 2010 is not 1992."

Holding the BJP and its allies responsible for the Babri demolition, he said that such outfits had been `fooling' the people.

"BJP's relationship with Ram is limited to elections; what was the BJP doing for the Ram temple when it was in power," Singh asked. He accused his party's political rivals of exploiting the temple issue in the past.