Indian court approves Hindu temple at Ayodhya
>>NEW DELHI: India’s Supreme Court yesterday ruled in favour of a Hindu temple on a disputed religious ground and ordered that alternative land be given to Muslims to build a mosque — a verdict deplored by an attorney representing the Muslim community.
The dispute over land ownership has been one of the country’s most contentious issues, with Hindu nationalists demanding a temple for more than a century.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the court verdict and said that it has settled a long-standing matter. “Every point of view was given adequate time and opportunity to express differing points of view. This verdict will further increase people’s faith in judicial processes,’’ he tweeted.
The 16th-century Babri Masjid mosque in the northern Indian town of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state was destroyed by Hindu hard-liners in December 1992, sparking massive Hindu-Muslim violence that left 2,000 people dead.
The verdict paves the way for a temple to be built in place of the mosque.
Five Supreme Court justices said in a unanimous judgment that 2 hectares of land will be allotted to the Muslim community at a prominent place for building a mosque. The disputed land will be given to a board of trustees for the construction of a temple for Hindu god Ram.
The court observed that the demolition of the mosque in 1992 was “in violation of the status quo orders of this court’.’ But the justices didn’t order any punitive action against those who demolished the mosque in the presence of top leaders of Mr Modi’s party.
Hindu supporters and activists celebrated the ruling on the court lawns, blowing bugles and chanting “Jai Shree Ram’,’ or hailing god Ram.
Zafaryab Jilani, an attorney representing Muslims, opposed the ruling.
“We are not satisfied with the verdict and it’s not up to our expectation,’’ said Mr Jilani, who is representing the Muslim community’s Babri Action committee.
“These 5 acres of land don’t mean anything to us,’’ he said. “We are examining the verdict and whatever legal course is open for us.’’
He hinted at filing a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging yesterday’s verdict. At the same time, he appealed to members of all communities to maintain peace.