Ahmedabad, October 01: Gujarat CM Narendra Modi welcomed the Ayodhya verdict, saying it lends constitutional credence to the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site.
“This verdict paves way for the construction of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple… Construction of a Ram temple there now becomes a duty.”
He sought public resolve for the temple’s construction. “I believe there should be no feeling of victory or loss… it is laudatory for country’s unity and pride. The result should be accepted forgetting past conflicts.”
The Chief Minister also lauded the state for keeping peace.
Howver, in cautious Naroda Patiyar, where around 100 people were killed in the 2002 riots, almost all doors wore locks as residents left for safer neighbourhoods ahead of the verdict. “We are scared. I have small children to take care of, so I am leaving for a nearby camp. Anything can happen here,” said Sabanaben, hurrying to leave with her kids.
“They (the police) should have been here to assure people that nothing will go wrong. No cop came till yesterday, there are some here today but most people left last night,” said Mohammed Rafiq, another resident.
In Surat, scores of families in Jehangirpura, Rander and Kosad had moved to safer places in the walled city.
In Ahmedabad’s bustling commercial areas, shopkeepers pulled down shutters and some schools also closed early. Barring Saurashtra and Kutch, most of the state seemed apprehensive, and kept off roads.
-Agencies