As leaders across party lines welcomed the Supreme Court verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit on Saturday, one of the litigants, Iqbal Ansari, said that he would be the first person to come forward to support the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Ansari said that his family always respected the judiciary and in the Ayodhya title suit too they had gladly accepted the apex court’s decision.
“Now that this dispute has been solved, we will do everything to maintain the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb of Ayodhya,” he asserted.
Ansari pointed out that the Supreme Court had directed the Centre to give five acres of alternative land for a mosque in Ayodhya. “Now, the Centre will see where and how fast it can arrange land for the mosque,” he added.
Responding to a question on extending support for construction of Ram temple, Ansari said, “Lord Ram belongs to everyone. If I am asked for my support in temple construction, I will definitely think about it,” the Babri masjid litigant added.
Welcoming the verdict, Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas president and Manidas Chhavni’s mahant Nritya Gopal Das said that truth had finally won after a long wait and the construction of a grand Ram temple at His birthplace would start soon.
The mahant said that the court verdict was the victory of the entire country. “Lord Ram’s faith is associated with crores of devotees of India. It is a matter of extreme happiness that the decision is in favour of Ram Lalla,” he said.
Responding to a question, Nritya Gopal Das said that he had no objection to the apex court’s decision to give an alternative plot for a mosque in Ayodhya.
“The fight was for the right of the birthplace which has been settled,” he added.
Meanwhile, even as the Supreme Court delivered the much-awaited verdict, Muslims in Ayodhya displayed some reservations on the date of the judgement.
According to the community, Prophet Mohammad’s birthday ‘Barawafat’ or ‘Milad-Un-Nabi’ would be celebrated across the country by Sunnis on November 10, but Ayodhya would celebrate it on Saturday. However, Shia Muslims will observe Barawafat on November 15. In view of the apex court’s decision, there will be problems in taking out a procession.
Azam, a close aide of Babri Masjid plaintiff Haji Mehboob, said that had the apex court’s decision been delivered a few days before ‘Barawafat,’ the Muslims would have been free to celebrate it.
Azam said that in view of the verdict, the district administration had made tight security arrangements as precautionary measures.
Responding to the questions raised on restrictions on Barawafat processions, District Magistrate of Ayodhya, Anuj Kumar Jha, said, “The magistrate gives permission in such situations, which is recommended by a circle officers. Hence, it will be better if they are asked about the same.”