Soon after it was announced that the Supreme Court will deliver the verdict on the 20-year-old Ram Janmabhoomi - Babri Masjid dispute on Saturday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requested the state to ‘react peacefully, whatever the outcome of the judgment.’
The five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, will deliver the verdict. “World over, people are keenly watching the Ayodhya verdict. Whatever the judgment is, the reactions in Kerala should be peaceful and all of us should ensure this,” the CM said in an official statement.
He also underscored that when Babri Masjid was demolished, Kerala’s reaction to the incident was something that can be a role model. “The peaceful reactions to the incident enhanced Kerala’s enlightened status,” the Chief Minister added.
“Whatever the judgment maybe tomorrow (Saturday), Kerala’s people must be ready to accept it peacefully. Every person in Kerala must take an oath to protect the peace and secularism of the country,” Pinarayi Vijayan said.
Stating that the judgment should not, in any way, be a reason to spread propaganda and hatred, the CM said, “We should be guided by high values of secularism and a sense of unity.”
A day before the judgment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appealed to the public, asking them to it a priority that this verdict strengthens India's glorious tradition of peace, unity and harmony.
Police to monitor social media accounts
The Kerala police have been instructed to be on high alert in the event of the judgment being delivered.
To ensure social media platforms don’t incite communal disharmony, the Kerala police have started monitoring all types of accounts on various social media platforms. According to officials, every account on social media will be under close watch for 24 hours by officials of the cyber cell, cyber dome and cyber police stations.
Police have also informed that stringent action will be taken against those who spread messages through social media that are aimed at promoting communal disharmony and violence.
“Such persons will be identified and arrested quickly with non-bailable charges and prosecution procedures will be initiated against them,” a statement released by the state police media centre said.
Latest technology will be employed to quickly track people behind accounts that spread any inflammatory messages.
Apart from creating such messages or posts, sharing or forwarding it will be considered a non-bailable offence.
State Police Chief Loknath Behera also posted on Facebook that directions have been given to all sections of the Kerala Police to monitor the spread of such propaganda.
Kochi city police on Friday gave special directions to influencers in various religious communities to maintain peace among the communities ahead of the verdict.
Similar measures have been put in place in other states.
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