Archives

NEW DELHI, March 31 (AFP) - India's Supreme Court Monday turned down a plea by the Hindu nationalist government to lift a ban on worship at a disputed religious site claimed by Hindus and Muslims in the northern town of Ayodhya.

The coalition government, headed by the right-wing Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, had last month asked the court to lift a previous ban to allow Hindu prayers near the site.

Militant Hindus led by BJP, which was then in opposition, tore down the 16th century Babri mosque in Ayodhya town in northern Uttar Pradesh in 1992, leading to widespread communal riots, that killed 2,000 people.

Hindus claim the site was the birthplace of their god Ram. Miliants want a temple to be built there.

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager