New Delhi : The apex court’s suggestion for a negotiated settlement to the longstanding dispute over the land title in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya attracted mixed reactions.
The Bharatiya Janata Party – ruling both at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh – heartily welcomed it but the Babri Masjid Action Committee and the Muslim Personal Law Board, which are prominent parties to the legal battle, dismissed an out-of-court settlement.
The BJP, which included the construction of the Ram temple in its poll manifesto, won 312 seats in the 403-member assembly in the February-March election. The BJP said friendly negotiations was the best way to resolve the dispute while Union Minister Mahesh Sharma, another BJP leader, said the court’s advice may pave the way for the temple’s construction. BJP MP Vinay Katiyar said the court’s suggestion, along with the fact that the BJP had come to power in Uttar Pradesh, will have a positive effect in settling the dispute.
Meanwhile, the RSS welcomed the apex court’s solution on the matter, saying it should be resolved at the earliest and a grand shrine should be built with the participation of all.
“We welcome the suggestion of Supreme Court. RSS always supported a settlement outside the court or a legislation to solve the sensitive issue,” RSS Joint General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale told reporters here.
He said though the RSS was not directly involved in the litigation, it would support any decision taken by the ‘Dharma Sansad,’ which spearheaded the Ram Janambhumi movement. “It (the Ram temple issue) is to be decided by the Dharam Sansad as they are the people who organised the entire Ram Janambhumi movement and the parties who went to the court. The RSS will not decide,” he added.
On the other hand, Babri Masjid Action Committee convenor Zafaryab Jilani as well as All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi virtually ruled out an out-of-court settlement. “An amicable solution is impossible. This has to be dealt in the court itself. If the court passes any order to that effect (amicable solution), we will think about future course of action,” said Jilani.
“We have faith if the CJI himself mediates or nominates a team of Supreme Court judges or the court itself hears the matter. But we are not willing to accept an out-of-court settlement,” he added.
Jilani said that going by his experience of last three decades, he feels the matter cannot be settled outside the court and referred to unsuccessful negotiation attempts made during the tenures of former Prime Ministers Chandrashekhar and P V Narasimha Rao.
The Allahabad High Court in its verdict on September 30, 2010, had directed a three-way division of the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya. The verdict was challenged in the apex court. –PTI
OTHER REACTIONS
“If all stakeholders on both sides can arrive at a mutually acceptable consensus based solution, it will go a long way in ensuring lasting peace, goodwill, mutual respect and brotherhood. Otherwise, Supreme Court should adjudicate the issue on merits. For the last 25 years, this issue has been used for attaining political power and at times for creating social strife for attaining electoral victories.”
Randeep Surjewala
Congress chief spokesperson
“All (parties) should take the initiative now. Lord Ram is at the centre of faith of crores of Hindus. Muslims should also come forward, let there evolve a cordial atmosphere. Will the temple be built in Pakistan or Bangladesh, if not in India? I am confident that the minorities will take the issue forward in a cordial manner”
Giriraj Singh Union minister and Hindutva leader
“I understand that many rounds of talks have already been held but no concrete solution has come up. Nevertheless, dialogue continues to be the only way out and I welcome the SC observations from that perspective”
Syed Ahmed Bukhari
The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid
