Concerns have been raised in Ayodhya about the impact of the Ram temple inauguration on the local Muslim community, as the historical and cultural significance of Ayodhya for both Hindus and Muslims is recognised, with evidence pointing to the coexistence of mosques, tombs, dargahs, and ancient structures reflecting centuries of Muslim settlement in the city, according to the BBC.
According to Indian official records, Ayodhya has 55 mosques, 22 graves, 22 shrines, and 11 imambargahs. However, following the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict in favor of the Ram temple, Ayodhya Waqf Board President Mohammad Azam Qadri has raised mounting concerns. He claims that hardline Hindu forces are targeting Muslim graveyards, raising fears about encroaching on Muslim properties and graves.
The erection of the Ram temple is said to have altered the political landscape in India, laying the groundwork for religious nationalism.
According to DW, the increasing encroachment on Muslim properties and graveyards is reason for concern, raising concerns about the possibility of include Muslim cemeteries and tombs in the temple’s expansion.
The socioeconomic impact on the Muslim population is also underlined, with DW reporting job losses among Ayodhya’s Muslims following the inauguration of the Ram Temple.
The broader background reveals a heightened sense of oppression against Muslims in India, notably under the Modi government, with charges that the oppression has become more severe, bordering on barbarism.
Critics question the Modi government’s commitment to secularism, raising concerns about the erasure of Muslim traces in Ayodhya. The Ram temple’s construction has exacerbated challenges for the Muslim community, which is framed within the larger political and social dynamics in India.
