Mumbai: Family members of Godhra train carnage victims on October 13 made a fervent plea to Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to ban the rath yatra to Ayodhya on October 15.

In an appeal through Citizens for Justice and Peace, an organisation dedicated to struggling for justice to victims of violence, four family members of the victims expressed concern over the yatra and said such exercise vitiates the atmosphere and becomes cause of violence.

"These yatras only serve political purposes. They have an adverse impact on ripping apart the centuries-old harmony and secularism of Indian society which was basic part of the Constitution," they said.

"Our country and Indian polity has been held ransom to this politico-religious mobilisation for over almost two decades now and this must stop. We apprehend that the yatra which is scheduled to start on October 15 will lead to a cycle of communal violence and cause heightened insecurity among the minorities thereby vitiating the surcharged atmosphere in the country."

"We strongly urge and demand that you prevent the forthcoming rath yatra by issuing prohibitory orders and ensure that there are no problems of outburst of violence and law and order," they said.

The appeal was made by Dr Girshbhai Raval, 82, who lost his wife Sudhabehn in Godhra train tragedy and his son Ashwinbhai who was stabbed in Ramol on April 16. Others who joined him were Bharatbhai Panchal, Prakashbhai Chodagar and Sharadbhai Mhatre.

PTI