Ayodhya Case Verdict
Quick Points:
- Supreme Court returns Ram temple in Ayodhya and gives Muslims nearly twice the disputed land for mosque.
- PM Modi said: Verdict not a win or loss for anybody, no place for bitterness, fear in new India.
- Congress welcomes Ayodhya verdict but Owaisi terms it a “victory of faith over facts.”
For decades, Hindus and Muslims have been bitterly divided over the 16th Century Babri mosque site. On Saturday (November 9), the Supreme Court of India gave the land to Lord Ram- the deity Ram Lalla, who was recognised as a legitimate legal personality and is given the title to the whole 2.77-acre disputed property in Ayodhya.
Supreme Court orders that Central Govt, within 3-4 months, is supposed to formulate scheme for setting up of trust and hand over the disputed site to it for construction of temple at the site. A suitable alternative plot of land measuring 5 acres at Ayodhya will be given to Sunni Wakf Board.
The five-judge Constitution bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justice SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and SA Nazeer pronounced its judgement in a special hearing which was called on Saturday, amidst tight security and a jam-packed courtroom.
Reactions from litigants, advocates in and leaders from across the political range:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi:
PM Modi tweeted hours after the verdict in the case: “This verdict shouldn’t be seen as a win or loss for anybody. Be it Ram Bhakti or Rahim Bhakti, it is imperative that we strengthen the spirit of Rashtra Bhakti.” PM also added, “It highlights that any dispute can be amicably solved in the spirit of due process of law. It reaffirms the independence, transparency and farsightedness of our judiciary. It clearly illustrates everybody is equal before the law.”
Sunni Central Waqf Board Chairman:
Chairman of Sunni Central Waqf Board, Zafar Ahmad Farooqui, one of the main litigants in the Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid case welcomed the Supreme Court verdict and said it has no plans to challenge it. “We welcome the Supreme Court verdict in the case. The Board has no plans to challenge it,” he said.
Sunni Central Waqf Board’s Zafaryab Jilani:
Jilani on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction over the SC’s Ayodhya verdict and said it has a lot of contradictions and they will seek a review of it.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat:
Bhagat said happily yet in a tempered manner, “Please express your joy in a measured manner,” and added, “We will all come together and fulfil our role for the creation of the Ram Temple.”
Home Minister and BJP Leader, Amit Shah:
Amit Shah tweeted: “will prove to be a milestone in itself”. “This decision will give further strength to the unity, integrity and great culture of India,” he said congratulating the justice system and the justices.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi:
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the Supreme Court judgment is a “victory of faith over facts” and he suggested rejection of the alternative five-acre plot given for construction of a mosque.
Owaisi said he personally felt that the offer of the five acre plot to the Muslim side should be rejected. He tweeted, “I endorse AIMPLB’s stand on the judgment. Our fight was for justice and legal rights. We don’t need 5-acre land as a charity.”
UP CM Yogi Adityanath:
Yogi Adityanath tweeted, “Everyone should support for unity and amity in the country. In UP, the government is committed to maintaining peace and security.”
BSP chief Mayawati:
Mayawati says, “Under the secular constitution of Respected Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, while respecting the historic decision given by the Supreme Court in relation to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute today, all the work should be done in an amicable atmosphere only.”
Congress spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala:
Surjewala said, “The Indian National Congress respects the verdict of the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya case,” Randeep Surjewala said as he appealed for peace and harmony. “Ram is sacrifice, Ram is bhaichara (brotherhood), Lord Ram’s name cannot be used to divide. Those who do this in the name of ram, don’t understand him at all. The BJP can no longer use Ram to quench its hunger for power.”
Shiv Sena leader, Aaditya Thackeray:
Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray, who is recommended as the CM hopeful in Maharashtra, in a tweet exclaimed saying, “Jai Shree Ram!”
Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal:
CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “We welcome the decision of the SC. Today SC gave decision on several decades of controversy. The years-old dispute ended today. I appeal to all people to maintain peace and harmony.”
Former CM of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis:
Devendra Fadnavis says, “The decision cannot be considered as for or against anyone. Almost everyone has welcomed this verdict.”
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot:
Targeting the BJP, Ashok Gehlot said that the saffron party made Ram Temple a political issue and tried to “divide society for winning elections”. “BJP, RSS, VHP should have left the matter to the judiciary at that time. If they had done it, the country could have been saved from violence and bloodshed. They provoked people. Donation for Ram temple was collected. Babri Masjid was demolished and when the riots broke out, who had benefited?” he asked.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh:
The Defence Minister said that the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya is a landmark judgement which should be respected by all. “I also feel that the judgement will strengthen the country’s social fabric,” he said and appealed to people to maintain peace and social amity.
Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar:
Shanta Kumar said, “The people of Himachal and especially the people of Palampur are very happy over the verdict because it was in Palampur 30 years ago that the BJP National Working Committee had passed the resolution to build a Lord Ram temple in Ayodhha.”
Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray:
Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that he may visit Ayodhya soon. “This is red-letter day in country’s history. I remember Bal Thackeray, Ashok Singhal on this day,” he said.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal:
Piyush Goyal tweeted, “This is a welcome decision of the Supreme Court which has been taken unanimously by the court. This decision has lead to the end of decades old legal issue.”
India rejected Pakistan’s comment on Ayodhya verdict
India has firmly rejected Pakistan’s comments on the timing of Ayodhya verdict and called it ‘unwarranted and gratuitous’. India further added that Pakistan’s ‘pathological compulsion to comment’ on India’s internal affairs is ‘condemnable’.
The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said, “We reject the unwarranted & gratuitous comments made by Pakistan on judgement of Supreme Court on a civil matter that is completely internal to India.”
“It pertains to rule of law&equal respect for all faiths, concepts that aren’t part of their ethos. So, while Pakistan’s lack of comprehension isn’t surprising, their pathological compulsion to comment on our internal affairs with obvious intent of spreading hatred is condemnable,” the statement added.
India’s statement came after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi objected to the timing of the Ayodhya verdict and this coincided with the inauguration of the Kartarpur corridor.
We respect and accept Ayodhya verdict: Ajmer Dargah
The spiritual head of Ajmer dargah welcomed the decision of Supreme Court on Ayodhya case on Saturday and appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony.
“The judiciary is supreme and everyone should respect the decision. It is the time to present a united face before the world because entire world is looking at India today,” Dargah Deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan said.
He told PTI, “We respect and accept the verdict. I appeal to the people of the country to maintain harmony and peace. This is the victory of the judiciary and the message should be loud and clear that how much the judiciary is important for us and people of the country are peace loving.”
He said that respecting and honouring the laws of the land is the basic Islamic teaching.
“We now need to concentrate on the development of self and the nation,” he added.
Ayodhya verdict trended on Twitter worldwide
‘AyodhyaVerdict’ was the top trend across the globe with over 206K tweets.
On the other hand, ‘HinduMuslimBhaiBhai’ was trending fourth worldwide with over 18.7K tweets.
While three out of the top ten global trends on Twitter were about the landmark judgement, all 10 of the top trends on Twitter India were about it.
Some tweets were like this:
“I don’t care for the judgement, I will always care for the fraternity and brotherhood we share.”
“I hope that peace prevails through the day.”
“Hindu-Muslim Bhai Bhai.”
“Today will be a historic day irrespective of the verdict. Let’s make sure history remembers us as agents of peace and harmony. Let’s make sure we counter the agents of hate and communalism with love and unity. Let’s make humanity trend. #hindumuslimbhaibhai.”
Situation is normal but UP, Delhi is still on alert
Uttar Pradesh heaved a sigh of relief as the day passed off peacefully among continued weakfulness on the law and order situation by authorities after the Supreme Court’s verdict and this had kept the holy town on edge for years.
No unexpected incident was reported in Delhi following the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Ayodhya case. However, the police continue to remain alert to deal with any law and order situation.
