Bhure files petition against bulletproof shelter in Ayodhya

New Delhi, July 20 (UNI) Aslam Bhure, the original petitioner in the Ayodhya dispute case, today moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Centre not to go ahead with its proposal of providing bulletproof security to the make-shift Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

In his petition, he contended that it is a ploy by the Union Home Ministry to construct a permanent structure in violation of apex court's order.

''If permission to raise the height of the wall to eight feet around makeshift temple is granted, a pucca temple is bound to come up,'' he argued.

The Centre had earlier moved an application in the Supreme Court on May 19 seeking the court's permission to allow it to provide a bullet-proof security around the Ram temple in view of the heightened threat perception to the structure in view of the recent terrorist attacks on religious places like Akshardham Temple in Gujarat and Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi in which more than 50 lives were lost and hundreds were injured.

The apex court had passed a status quo order in respect of Babri Masjid after it was demolished by Sangh parivar activists with tacit support from the then state BJP government, headed by Kalyan Singh. The Chief Minister was given one day's symbolic sentence by the court for contempt of court in not being able to protect the structure despite repeated assurances that the structure would be protected at all costs.

UNI AKS/SC AK HT2255