Ayodhya dispute: How it all began

NEW DELHI - The Babri mosque dates back nearly 500 years when it was built in Ayodhya by Mir Baqi, a commander of first Mughal emperor Babur, in 1528. Hence the mosque’s name — Babri Masjid.

1853: First recorded incident of Hindu-Muslim violence over the site with Hindus alleging the mosque was built on the site of a razed Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Ram.

1859: British erect a fence and allow Muslims and Hindus to worship separately in the inner and outer courtyards.

1885: The dispute is dragged to court for the first time when Mahant Raghubar Das files a suit in a Faizabad court seeking permission to build a Ram temple adjoining the Babri mosque.

Dec 23, 1949: About 50 Hindus allegedly sneak in idols of Lord Ram in the mosque under the central dome. This leads to daily Hindu prayers at the site. Muslims stop offering namaz.

Jan 16, 1950: Gopal Singh Visharad files suit in Faizabad city court seeking exclusive rights to perform prayers for “Ram Lalla”. He also seeks judicial restraint on the removal of idols.

Dec 5, 1950: Mahant Paramahans Ramchandra Das files suit to continue with the Hindu prayers and keeping the Ram idols at the Babri mosque, which he calls a “structure”.

Dec 17, 1959: Nirmohi Akhara files suit seeking transfer of disputed site.

Dec 18, 1961: Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Board of Waqf files suit seeking possession of Babri mosque site.

1984: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) launches a campaign to open the locks of Babri mosque so as to “liberate” the birthplace of Ram and build a grand temple.

Feb 1, 1986: Faizabad district judge allows Hindus to worship at the site. Locks are re-opened. Angry Muslims set up Babri Mosque Action Committee in protest.

June 1989: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gives formal backing to VHP, giving renewed life to the temple movement.

July 1, 1989: Fifth suit filed in the name of Bhagwan Ram Lalla Virajman.

Nov 9, 1989: The Rajiv Gandhi government permits ’shilanyas’, or ground-breaking ceremony near the Babri mosque.

Sep 25, 1990: BJP president L.K. Advani launcheS Rath Yatra - from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, raising passions all over the country. Communal riots follow.

November 1990: Advani arrested in Samastipur in Bihar. BJP withdraws support to Prime Minister V.P. Singh, whose government is propped by Left and BJP. V.P. Singh resigns.

October 1991: Kalyan Singh government in Uttar Pradesh acquires 2.77 acres of land around Babri mosque.

Dec 6, 1992: Thousands massed at Ayodhya demolish the Babri mosque, triggering widespread communal riots. A makeshift Ram temple is hurriedly built. Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao vows to rebuild the mosque.

Dec 16, 1992: M.S. Liberhan Commission set up to probe the circumstances leading to the mosque razing.

January 2002: Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee sets up an Ayodhya Cell in his office to talk to Hindu and Muslim leaders to resolve the dispute.

April 2002: Three high court judges begin hearings on determining who owns the Ayodhya site.

March-August 2003: Archaeological Survey of India excavates in Ayodhya on the directions of the Allahabad High Court. It claims to have found an evidence of a temple beneath the mosque. Muslims dispute the findings.

September 2003: A court rules that seven Hindu leaders should stand trial for inciting the mosque demolition.

October 2004: Advani reiterates the BJP’s “unwavering” commitment to building a temple at Ayodhya.

July 2005: Suspected Islamic militants attack the site, using a jeep packed with explosives. Security forces kill five attackers.

June 2009: The Liberhan Commission submits report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh — 17 years after its formation.

September 28 : Supreme Court gives go-ahead for Allahad High Court judgement on Sep 30, rejecting appeals for deferment.