25 Years Since the Ayodhya Massacre, Reporters Look Back!

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PRERIT CHAUHAN (PHOTO/VIDEO BY SAURABH SHRIVASTAVA) TENNEWS DELHI

After the demolition of the Babri Masjid, on the evening of December 6, 1992, kar sevaks started attacking Muslim residents of Ayodhya, ransacking and demolishing their houses. Twenty-eight Muslims were murdered, almost all their houses and shops were torched and destroyed, including 23 local mosques. No FIR was lodged, no cases were registered of this riot.


On The Wire’s public event at the Press Club of India, Journalists who were present when the Babri Masjid was demolished by Sangh parivar mobs on December 6, 1992, 25 years ago today, spoke about their experiences. The attack on the mosque also involved vicious assaults on Muslims in Ayodhya and elsewhere, and on the media.

Saeed Naqvi Said, “Rivalry within Congress also contributed to what happened on December 6 and Every political party in India was complicit in the Babri Masjid demolition”.

“As soon as the demolition started, the mob started attacking journalists, especially photojournalists. They wanted to destroy our camera”, said Photojournalist Praveen Jain while Addressing the conference.

Journalist Seema Chisht said, Advani asked people to take a pledge at end of all his rallies – “Kasam Ram ki khate hai, mandir wahin banwayenge”, The mob tried to strangle me, assault me after someone yelled that I was Muslim: Journalist Seema Chishti shared her horrific experience.

At the Press Club of India, Mark Tully, formerly of the BBC, also spoke about the Babri Masjid demolition. He said, “Central govt was committed to protecting the mosque but there was no govt in Ayodhya that day. Mood against the press was very angry from the night before”.

 

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