In a big twist to Babri dispute, a new claimant has now come to the fore. Prince Yakub Habibuddin, who claims to be a descendant of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, claimed that he was the rightful heir to Babri masjid and supported Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s efforts to mediate whom he claimed to have met on October 22 in Bangalore.
Prince Yakub, who was in lucknow on Tuesday, said that UP Shia Waqf Board has no locus standi in the Ayodhya dispute. He demanded from UP Sunni Central Waqf Board to appoint him as the mutwalli (caretaker) of Babri mosque. He said that he would visit Ayodhya on Wednesday and meet all stakeholders in the dispute.
Addressing a press conference in lucknow on Tuesday along with Brahman Mahasabha chief, the Mughal scion said, ``I am the owner of Babri mosque. If I am not designated as mutwalli of the mosque, then I will approach the court.’’ Yakub said that his sole aim was the amicable settlement of the dispute and to end the discord in society due to the vexed issue. He also met UP’s Minority Affairs minister Chaudhary lakshmi Naryan and given him a representation for his appointment as the mutwalli.