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By Manzar Mehdi

The Milli Gazette Online

Ayodhya: Eighty years old Hashim Ansari, who is associated with Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute from the very beginning is in great difficulties these days. The gunner appointed by the government for his security has been withdrawn. Police, considering even the harmless, old and sick Hashim Ansari, in addition to his sons, nephews and other close relatives as danger to peace, law and order, has slapped two cases under 107 and 116 against him. Hearings of these cases are held in court at short intervals because of which the poor old man is compelled to present himself at Faizabad from Ayodhya again and again.

The question arises as to why such excesses and injustices are being meted out to the petitioner of Babri Masjid under Mulayam Singh government? In reply Hashim Ansari says that he is being punished for the lapses committed by him rather inadvertently which no body tried to know. He says that once Azam Khan had visited Ayodhya recently but he could not go to receive and pay his obeisance to him (Azam Khan). This is his fault or rather crime for which he is being punished and harassed. He says that his gunner was withdrawn and now Mulayam Singh government’s police is compelling him to leave Ayodhya. Hashim, who has been honourably living in Ayodhya for years, has now become an unsocial and dangerous person. Now Mulayam Singh government is harassing him and his family members time and again and cases have been filed against him. SHO of Ram Janmabhoomi police station says that ‘all of you are black listed and I will put you all in jail under Gangster Act.’ 

Patience of the old Hashim Ansari overflows. Tears come to his eyes which he unsuccessfully tries to hide. This man of iron will who could not succumb even to the highest bid has now become so much heart broken because of the treatment being meted out to him by the Mulayam Singh government that he is finding it difficult to narrate. He says that even the BJP government had not treated him so badly as he is being treated now under the so-called Muslim friendly and Babri Masjid supporting government of Mulayam Singh.

If Hashim Ansari, who firmly stood in Ayodhya even during the days when Vishwa Hindu Parishad was at its peak and barbarism of Karsevaks was also at its height, now talks of leaving Ayodhya, a big question mark is put on the law and order position and administrative justice and efficiency of any government. Under such a situation the silence and inaction of Babri Masjid Action Committee and Muslim Personal Law Board is no less regrettable. «