Some Muslim leaders ‘soften’ Masjid stance

Prominent Muslim leaders, who had earlier taken tougher stands over the demands for the construction of a Ram temple in place of the demolished Babri mosque in Ayodhya, appear to be taking a softer line on the issue. From cleric Maulana Salman Husaini Nadwi to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, they have been seeking an early resolution to the problem.

The conciliatory approach has coincided with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its affiliates demanding an ordinance for the construction of the temple since the Supreme Court declined an early hearing in the Babri MasjidRam Janmabhoomi title dispute on November 12. The Shiv Sena and the Vishva Hindu Parishad are organising programmes in Ayodhya as part of their temple construction campaign on Saturday and Sunday.

Nadwi reiterated his demand on Thursday for resolving the dispute through mutual negotiations. He slammed the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) for derailing his earlier efforts to resolve the issue.

“The only way of resolving the problem is to shift the masjid from the disputed site with an assurance and undertaking for the protection of all mosques,’’ said Nadwi, who was removed from AIMPLB in February for his unilateral initiative to resolve the issue by meeting the Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Nadwi has formed a Humanity Welfare Board to take forward his initiative on the Ayodhya issue.

One of the petitioners in Ayodhya case, Haji Mehboob, supported an out-of-court settlement. Main litigant Iqbal Ansari said he has “no problem” if the Centre brings such a law. Azam Khan, too, has been making conciliatory noises. “I do not have any issue with the construction of a Ram temple provided it is not built over Muslims’ blood...”