The BJP and the RSS have welcomed the Supreme Court’s initiative for a negotiated settlement to the Ayodhya dispute, saying it should be resolved at the earliest and a grand Ram temple should be built with participation of all. But Muslim organisations, including Babri Masjid Action Committee, were sceptical about the court’s suggestion, saying attempts at out-of-court settlement in the past have been unsuccessful.
Veteran BJP leader lK Advani, prime mover of the Ram Janmabhoomi Andolan in the 1990s, welcomed the court’s suggestion and said all concerned parties should reach a consensus to resolve it.
“The Supreme Court’s observation is a welcome step and I hope in light of the apex court’s advice, all concerned parties will reach consensus and will find a solution to resolve the Ram Temple issue,” Advani told reporters.
Besides Advani, a host of other BJP leaders, including new Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, too welcomed the apex court’s observation. Adityanath assured cooperation from the UP Government in resolving the issue of temple in Ayodhya.
The VHP, on the other hand, asked the Modi Government to bring out legislation to build the Ram temple and announced to launch a fresh movement.
Reacting cautiously to the court’s suggestion, the Congress said a “consensus-based” solution to the Ayodhya dispute will go a long way in ensuring lasting peace and goodwill or the Supreme Court should adjudicate the case on merit.
But the RSS fully backed the court’s initiative. “We welcome the suggestion of Supreme Court.
RSS always supported a settlement outside the court or a legislation to solve the sensitive issue,” RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale told reporters in Coimbatore at the sideline of a three-day meeting of its highest decision-making body, Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha. The meeting concluded on Tuesday.
He said though the RSS was not directly involved in the litigation, it would support any decision taken by the ‘Dharma Sansad,’ which spearheaded the Ram Janmabhumi movement.
“It (the Ram temple issue) is to be decided by the Dharma Sansad as they are the people who organised the entire Ram Janmabhumi movement and the parties who went to the court. The RSS will not decide.
“The RSS will go by the Dharma Sansad’s decision. The issue should be settled at the earliest and a grand temple should be erected through the involvement of all Indians,” he added.
Welcoming the apex court’s suggestion, the BJP said aggrieved parties should keep in mind its “sensitivity” while discussing the matter. “We welcome this step and I believe they (stakeholders) should have talks outside the court,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters in New Delhi.
Patra suggested that aggrieved parties should talk while keeping in mind the “sensitivity” of the issue.
Reacting to the court’s initiative, Zafaryab Jilani, Convenor of the Babri Masjid Action Committee, which is a party to the case, said, “”We are ready with the Chief Justice (of India) mediating... we trust him. We are also ready we if he nominates a team for hearing the matter. But out-of-court settlement is not possible. If SC passes an order in this regard, we will look into it.”
Jilani said that going by his experience of last three decades, he feels that the matter cannot be settled outside the court and referred to unsuccessful negotiation attempts made during the tenures of former Prime Ministers Chandra Shekhar and PV Narasimha Rao.
On the other hand, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said the Ram temple should be built at Ram Janmabhoomi while the Masjid on the other side of Sarayu river to resolve the Ayodhya issue.
“We were always ready. Mandir and Masjid should be built but Masjid should be built on other side of Sarayu river. The Ram Janmabhoomi should be entirely for Ram Mandir,” he told reporters here.
Swamy argued that in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim nations, mosque is regarded as the place where ‘Namaaz’ (prayer) is offered and prayer can be offered at any place.
“My suggestion is that Masjid be built on other side of the Sarayu river and Ram Janmabhoomi be handed over for Ram Temple. We cannot change the birthplace of Ram, but Masjid can be made anywhere,” he said.
Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad chief Pravin Togadia asked the Modi Government to bring out legislation to build the Ram temple. “The Union Government must bring and pass the law to build Ram Temple in Ayodhya at the birth place of Shree Ram (lord Ram),” he said.
The VHP has also decided to re-launch the Ram Temple movement, saying it will launch a movement called ‘Ram Mahotsav’ from March 26 to April 16.