With the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Ayodhya dispute imminent, northern India is tense. Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University, two premier minority institutions of the country, are no exception. In this context, the teachers’ association of Jamia on Thursday appealed the Jamia community, requesting them to respect the verdict. 

The Ayodhya dispute revolves around a piece of land on which the Babri Masjid stood until it was torn down in 1992 by a Hindutva mob mobilised by the Sangh Parivar. It is believed by a section of the Hindu community that the mosque was erected on the birthplace of the god Ram.

In a statement, the Jamia Teachers’ Association said, “We appeal to the entire nation, irrespective of any religion, to respect the verdict of the Honorable Supreme Court.” It urged citizens to respect their duties such as “abiding by the constitution, “promoting harmony and spirit of common brotherhood among all”, and “safeguarding public property and to abjure violence”. 

The university’s vice chancellor, Najma Akhtar, issued a separate statement: “I especially appeal to students to engage themselves in their studies. Exams are at hand.” 

A Jamia student, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of disciplinary action, wasn’t impressed by Akhtar’s appeal. “On the one hand, she meets Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s workers and on the other, she is appealing the minority community to stay silent. This shows her loyalties.” 

Akhtar, within days of her appointment as the vice chancellor, had met with the controversial RSS leader Indresh Kumar in April. Indresh is part of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, the Muslim wing of the RSS.

Tariq Mansoor, vice chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, issued a similar appeal on November 4. Addressed to “AMU fraternity and all sections of society”, it said, “It is the duty of all sections of the society to respect the decision of the highest court and not indulge in any activity which may vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the university campus, city and country.”

Students at these and other universities whom Newslaundry spoke with said their families are anxious about their safety. Mahiya Badr, a student of Jawaharlal Nehru University, said, “The fear is real. My parents are insisting that I return home before the verdict comes out because they are afraid that despite being in the National Capital, something terrible might happen to me.” 

Badr added, “At home, they have started hoarding groceries…I know many Muslim students who are goining back to their families before the verdict. This kind of fear shouldn’t haunt us.”

The apex court concluded its hearing on the matter last month and reserved its judgement, which is expected anywhere before November 17. 

Musharraf Ali, a resident of Jamia Nagar in Delhi, said, “We have already bought essential food items and taken out some money because we fear that there might be a sudden situation of extreme violence after the verdict. No matter which community the verdict favours, the other community will agitate because this is an age-old fight. This will not get resolved so easily.”  

Abhinandan Kumar, a student at Banaras Hindu University in Uttar Pradesh, said, “Even though the probability of eruption of violence after the court’s verdict is high, we can only appeal to the public to stay sane and not participate in any of that.”

Some activists questioned why only institutions populated largely by Muslim students were issuing such appeals.

Nadeem Khan, founder of United Against Hate, a campaign against mob lynchings and hate crimes, said, “Why are these appeal being made only at minority institutions where the majority of students are Muslim. It’s as if only Muslim are responsible for maintaining harmony? Since 2014, there have been many cases of hate crimes and mob lynchings against Muslims. But have they ever tried to upset the communal harmony of the country? The appeal should be directed to people who instigate violence like Vinay Katiyar and Sakshi Maharaj.”

Vinay Katiyar, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader who is an accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case, recently said he would accept the verdict of the Supreme Court but the people of Ayodhya wouldn’t be content with anything less than the construction of Ram Mandir, hinting that there could be violence if the verdict is not in their favour. 

While the case was being heard in the court last month, BJP parliamentarian Sakshi Maharaj remarked, “The temple construction should have begun on the date when the structure [of Babri Masjid] was demolished.”