BMAC rejects demand to ‘gift away’ Ayodhya land

This comes a day after a peace forum comprising Muslim professionals urged the community to “gift the disputed site in Ayodhya” to Hindus

BAREILLY/LUCKNOW: A day after a peace forum comprising Muslim professionals urged the Muslims to “gift the disputed site in Ayodhya” to the Hindus even if they win the court case in the Supreme Court, the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC) on Friday rejected their appeal.

“I know Lt Gen Zamir Shah, but who else has heard about him? What right do these people have to offer the Ayodhya land as a gesture of goodwill? I don’t know what their agenda is, and frankly, I don’t even care what they have to say in the matter. Not even 0.1 per cent Muslims knows who they are,” said BMAC convenor Zafaryab Jilani.

He snubbed the forum’s request, saying it comprised just a group of retired government servants who had no say in

› I know Lt Gen Zamir Shah but who else has heard about him? What right do these people have to offer the land as a gesture of goodwill? I don’t know what their agenda is.

ZAFARYAB JILANI, convenor, Babri Masjid Action Committee

the matter.

“We already said that we were not litigants so far as the court case is concerned. But then neither is the AIMPLB or BMAC also a party in the case. And we do not think they speak or reflect the opinion of the entire Muslim community on the issue,” said former IPS officer Aftab Ahmed Khan, member of the Peace Forum.

The forum’s demand comes just a day ahead of the meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) in Nadwa College on Saturday to discuss the Ayodhya case and its fallout, now that the apex court is expected to deliver its verdict around mid-November.

Meanwhile, the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board (UPSCWB), which is one of the main litigants in the Ayodhya case, has already shown its inclination for settling the issue through mediation.

“I have not received any invitation for tomorrow’s AIMPLB meeting so far, nor I am keen to attend,” said Waqf Board chairman Zufar Ahmad Farooqui.

To avoid media glare and alleged dissension within its ranks on the Babri issue, the AIMPLB has decided to keep its Saturday’s meeting a closed door affair. “There will be no photo opportunity and press conference. A press note would be issued about the meeting,” said a communique by the AIMPLB on Friday.