Lucknow: Chances of an out-of-court settlement of the Ayodhya dispute have receded further with both sides hardening their stand after the Supreme Court rejected BJP MP Subramanium Swamy’s plea for a hearing the case on priority.
Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) leader and eminent lawyer Zafaryab Jilani said with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath at the helm of affairs, there is no possibility of an out-of-court settlement.
“We are apprehensive that undue pressure would be mounted on us and we would prefer to wait for the court to give its verdict. We have waited for so many years and can wait for another few years,” he said. Iqbal Ansari, who is now a party in the case in which his late father Hashim Ansari was a plaintiff, said, “My father spent his entire life for this case and always favoured a peaceful settlement. But, he wanted the talks should be about the construction of both — the temple and the mosque. Without this, there can be no negotiation”. There are five Hindu parties and six Muslim parties fighting cases in the Supreme Court.
“Negotiation is not an easy option in this scenario,” admitted a senior counsel. Now with the court refusing to hear the case on a day-to-day basis, there is likely to be more delay in pronouncement of the judgement.
The emergence of a Muslim group called Ram Mandir Muslim Kar Sevak Manch, which calls upon the community to support temple construction, has added to the mistrust.
A senior member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, who requested anonymity, said, “This is how attempts are being made to create confusion among Muslims and demoralise the community. The people behind this group are unknown figures and can’t speak on behalf of the entire community”.
Mahant Ram Das, the chief priest of Nirmohi Akhara and a key litigant in the case, said, “We are ready for talks but the Muslims must give up their claim over the Babri Masjid and allow the construction of a Ram temple at that site. Mughal emperor Babar never came to Ayodhya and the Babri Masjid was built by his general, Mir Baqi. The grave of Mir Baqi is 5km from the disputed site in Shahenwa village of Faizabad. Muslims can build the Babri mosque near Mir Baqi’s grave”.
