Divided opinion in JNU on Supreme Court ruling

New Delhi: An uneasy calm prevailed in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus soon after the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict in the Ayodhya dispute. While some students refrained themselves from commenting on the verdict, others had divided opinions over the matter.

An M.Phil student, with leanings towards the Left parties, refused to comment.

While having tea outside his hostel canteen, he said, “What’s the point in talking about this matter when the court has already given its verdict?”

When asked what verdict he was expecting from the Supreme Court, he said, “Sorry, I do not want to comment on this controversial issue.”

Another female student too refused to comment on the apex court’s verdict.

“I am not satisfied with what the top court has decided. The judges could have taken a balanced approach while dealing with this sensitive matter,” she said.

“We welcome this historical verdict and request fellow citizens to accept this verdict with grace. Now, as the path for the construction of the Lord Rama temple is clear, India will move forward by keeping people of all the faiths together,” said Saurabh Sharma, the ABVP leader in JNU.  

There were, however, many students who felt that construction of both temple and mosque at the disputed site could have amicably solved this issue.

“I do not think either Hindus or Muslims would have objected to any such decision,” said a Master’s student, requesting anonymity. “I do not want my name to be dragged into any controversy. Already, our university is in news in connection with several controversial issues,” she added.

Late in the evening, a student from a particular community staged a solo protest inside the campus as he was aggrieved at the verdict. A varsity official said, the student is alone and is not accompanied by anyone as of now.