Letter.

Letter Published in  The National UAE on 27 Nov 18

Hopes for a peaceful solution to Indian religious site disputeI write with reference to your article Ayodhya tense as thousands of Hindus gather near disputed religious site(November 26).

This report offered a ­careful and detailed account of the ­ongoing tension in the ­northern Indian city, which lies in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Hindu groups are calling for the construction of a temple on a disputed religious site, where in 1992 a mosque was destroyed by a mob.

Most Hindus believe that the site is the birthplace of the warrior god Lord Ram. As such, they want a temple to him to be erected there.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has been instrumental in the ratcheting up of demands for the building. This matter will also be high on the agenda of political parties during next May’s Lok Sabha elections.

Both Hindu and Muslim groups have petitioned India’s Supreme Court to help resolve the issue.

The state government has deployed police commandos to ensure that clashes between both groups do not occur.

My hope is that all parties will behave in a peaceful manner and that law and order will be maintained.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru