AYODHYA: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi’s Ayodhya visit is embroiled in a poster controversy with seers threatening to bar his entry over the use of the word — ‘Faizabad’ instead of Ayodhya — in banners that have sprung up across the district. Faizabad district was renamed Ayodhya by the Yogi government in 2018.
Calling it a polarisation tactic of the Hyderabadi politician and an insult to Ayodhya, seers on Saturday threatened to stop his rally under the aegis of ‘Shoshit Vanchit Samaj Sammelan’, if Faizabad was not dropped from posters. Owaisi is scheduled to address a public meeting at Rudauli, a Muslim-dominated constituency 40km off Ramjanmabhoomi, on September 7 after a visit to the shrine of an 18th century Sufi saint.
Mahant Raju Das of Hanumangarhi said, “Why is Owaisi renaming Ayodhya as Faizabad? We condemn his communal ideology and demand removal of the posters.” Mahant Paramhans Das of Tapasvi Chavni mutt said, “Owaisi’s anti-Hindu move is also an insult to chief minister Yogi Adityanath. If posters bearing the name Faizabad are not removed, Owaisi’s entry in Ayodhya would be barred and the public meeting at Rudauli will be disrupted.”
One of the oldest plaintiffs in the Ayodhya title suit, Iqbal Ansari, too condemned the Owaisi’s political inroads into Ayodhya. “Muslims should be cautious about Owaisi, who should stick to Hyderabad and not play with the sentiments of lakhs of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. I appeal to the people not be influenced by his polarisation tactics.”
AIMIM district president Shahnawaz Siddiqui said, “We are habituated to calling Faizabad by its old name. It takes time for the new name to sink in. This is a minor issue and should not be blown out of proportion.”
