Sunni Board to decide stand at Feb 24 meeting

LUCKNOW: The UP Sunni Central Waqf Board (UPSCWB) on Wednesday said it will take a call at its February 24 board meeting on whether or not to accept the five-acre land, the allotment of which the UP cabinet has approved for construction of a mosque in Ayodhya district.

On the other hand, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) indicated it may file a curative petition.

The UP cabinet approved the proposal for allotment of the land to the Sunni Board after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced in Lok Sabha the formation of a trust to construct a Ram temple in Ayodhya as directed by the Supreme Court in its verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case in November last year.

Although UPSCWB chairman Zufar Ahmad Faruqui was not available for comment, a board member, who did not wish to be named, said their stand on not challenging the Supreme Court verdict remained unchanged.

For its part, AIMPLB said if the Sunni Waqf Board decided to accept the offer, the move would not be in accordance with the wishes of the community.

AIMPLB secretary Zafaryab Jilani said, “No one can exchange land for a mosque. The All India Muslim Personal Board may move a curative petition. I am no more a lawyer of the Sunni Waqf Board as they have decided not to go for a curative petition. The Sunni Waqf Board should respect the feelings of Muslims.”

Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, a prominent AIMPLB member said, “With the formation of the Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teertha Kshetra, the politics on Ram temple must end. Now, it’s up to the Sunni Waqf Board to accept the five acres of land or refuse it. But I want an end to divisive politics. The government must now address the core issues like unemployment, health, education and economic development.”

Shaista Amber, who heads the All India Muslim Women’s Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB), said, “The Sunni Waqf Board should use the land for the construction of a health care centre, education centre or any other centre which generates jobs and empowers the Muslim community. The Sunni Waqf board must also consult women before taking a decision on five acres of land.”

UP Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi said, “The prime minister has given the gift of Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teertha Kshetra trust to all Indians. As everyone knows the structure (mosque) was constructed by Mir Baqi who was a Shia, the property always belonged to the Shias, but they never claimed it due to the fear of the Sunnis. When the Shias put their point forward before they Supreme Court, they were late by 71 years. That’s why the five-acre land, which should have gone to the Shia Waqf Board, has gone to the Sunni Waqf Board. However had the Shia Waqf Board got the five acres of land, then for the sake of communal harmony and unity, the Shia Waqf Board would have constructed a second Ram temple. ”

THE ALL INDIA MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW BOARD INDICATED IT MAY FILE A CURATIVE PETITION IN THE SUPREME COURT.