NDA partners Janata Dal (U) and Shiv Sena expressed their delight over the judgment that will now end a decades old dispute and allow construction of a temple and a mosque in the holy town of Ayodhya. While JDU president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar welcomed the Supreme Court verdict appealed to people to respect the judgement, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray called it a "red letter day" in the history of India.
Nitish, who heads the JD(U) and is a partner with BJP both at Centre and State said it was his party's opinion for quite a long time that the Ayodhya matter should be resolved either through mutual agreement or court order.
Thackeray, whose party is locked in a bitter dispute with ally BJP over formation of Government in Maharashtra on the issue of sharing the post of Chief Minister, also announced that he might visit Ayodhya on November 24. BJP and the Sena have failed to form the Government despite having a majority of 161 MLAs in the 288- member House even though the term of the current Legislative Assembly ends on November 9.
Nitish urged people to maintain harmony in the society by respecting sentiment of each other. "The Supreme Court has delivered its verdict (on Ayodhya matter). We all should accept and welcome the judgement. The decision should be respected by all. This is the solution to the matter," Kumar said.
"We should respect each other and accept completely the apex court verdict which is clear and unanimous. The judgement has been delivered after hearing all the parties in the matter," he said. Kumar said the court has bestowed some responsibility on the Government too.
"I will urge people not to create any sort of dispute on the matter and maintain harmony in the society," Kumar asserted.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Thackeray said the verdict has formally ended the dispute over the birth place of Lord Ram. "Every one had expected the verdict given by the Supreme Court. I appeal to shiv sainiks to celebrate the verdict without hurting anybody's sentiments. The other side.." Thackeray said.
He said he remembers his father and Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, VHP leader late Ashok Singhal, BJP's Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pramod Mahajan, and LK Advani who had led the Ram janmabhoomi movement in 1990s.
"I had visited Ayodhya on November 24 last year and offered prayers. I also participated in 'aarti' on the banks of river Sarayu there. I had then taken along with me soil from the Shivneri fort, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and prayed for a miracle to ensure construction of a Ram temple. I am happy that that miracle happened within a year," Thackeray said.
Referring to the apex court verdict, he said one chapter has closed and it is pertinent for all to make a new beginning. "If everyone shows understanding and maturity like today, our country will be a superpower," he said referring to the ground situation in view of the verdict. Thackeray said he would visit L K Advani, who had undertaken a Rathayatra.
"It (Ram Janmabhoomi movement) was a big agitation. Some people are not with us now. Some have lost their lives in the agitation. I salute them all," Thackeray added.