Outstation patients at Dr Banerjee's clinic here ask him to prescribe extra medicines, just in case there is trouble after Supreme Court pronounces its verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute and they can’t visit him sooner.
Indroneel Banerjee says he tells them to have faith. “All is well. And God willing, all will be well in future as well.”
“The atmosphere is by and large normal. People are feeling a bit apprehensive, but they are not afraid,” he told PTI on Thursday.
“People in Ayodhya, whether they are Hindus or Muslims, want peace and development in the city. People of the temple city, Hindus and Muslims, are sure there will be no clashes between them,” he said.
I feel that a clash will take place only if external elements arrive to disturb the peace of this place,” he said.
But some of his patients are on edge.
"Patients come to me from neighbouring districts and remote areas of Ayodhya. All they say is, doctor sahib, give us extra 15 days' medicine so that we come next only towards the end of the month,” he said.
The verdict on the temple-mosque land dispute is expected to be pronounced before Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi retires on November 17.
Banerjee hoped it will be an “amicable settlement”.
"People in Ayodhya want the dispute to be resolved at the earliest. This mandir issue has done more damage than good to Ayodhya. Business has moved out of Faizabad, young entrepreneurs do not want to set up their establishments in the temple town," he said.