SC stays Vadodara demolitions

Vadodara: The Supreme Court on Thursday put on hold the demolition drive in the city, overruling a Gujarat High Court order to demolish all illegal structures in the city.

The decision comes four days after the city erupted in violence over the demolition of a dargah in the walled city.

The apex court took the decision keeping in view the deteriorating law and order situation in the city.

SC also slammed the Gujarat HC order to demolish all illegal structures in the city saying it was based purely on media reports.

Six people were killed and dozens were injured in the ensuing clashes between police and Muslim groups.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal submitted a report to the Central Government after visiting the violence-torn city.

Jaiswal submitted his report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil and is understood to have said the Vadodara administration could have avoided demolition of the dargah in view of the people's sentiments associated with the old shrine.

The report is understood to have said that demolition of religious monuments could hurt sentiments of the people.

"I have nothing to say on the report. The foremost need is to contain the violence in Vadodara and bring peace and normalcy there. The Centre is willing to provide all necessary assistance to the Gujarat authorities to deal with the situation," Jaiswal said.

Jaiswal is believed to have mentioned in his report that while the district administration has the right to launch drives to demolish illegal structures, decisions to raze religious places, which were centuries old, should be taken after due deliberations keeping in mind the sentiments of the people.

"The Government always goes by experiences in the past. I have full confidence that the state authorities will take all measures required to quell the violence and restore peace," Jaiswal said.

Jaiswal said the state authorities, he said, are in touch with the Centre and have been sending their reports to the Home Ministry.

Curfew relaxed, Sonia sends ‘peace messengers’

Four days after the demolition of a dargah sparked riots in the walled city, killing six, the city continues to remain on the edge.

Despite the curfew and heavy police bandobast, sporadic instances of violence were reported from across the city in the past two days.

The army troops, deployed on Wednesday, continued their vigil even as officials claimed the situation was under control.

The curfew imposed from day one of the riots will be relaxed for children and women later on Thursday, officials said.

Nine army comprising 1,000 army personnel have joined the 500 paramilitary troopers deployes in the city to maintain law and order situation.

The army personnel carried out the flag march on Wednesday night after a mob attacked a police station and burnt a bakery.

Two columns marched city police Station area, Nawapura, Wadi, Raopura, Karelibagh and Panigate, Police Commissioner Deepak Swarup said.

Meanwhile, Congress President Sonia Gandhi also sent three party secretaries Manish Tewari, Siddharth Patel and Sanjay Bapana to Vadodara to help restore peace in the city.

All-religion prayers would also be organised to create an atmosphere of communal harmony in the city, they said adding the Government at the Centre was maintaining a close watch on the situation in the city.

(With inputs from PTI)

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