Ayodhya: Out-of-court settlement now? -03/10/2010

03/10/2010

Ayodhya: Out-of-court settlement now?

(MY SUGGESTION IS THAT DO'T LET THIS ISSUE GET POLITICISED FOR VESTED INTEREST AS ELECTIONS IN FEW STATES ARE THERE IN NEAR FUTURE,I AM SURE NOW VOTERS WON'T VOTE TO ANY CANDIDATE JUST BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE,NEITHER KILL EACH OTHER.THOUGH FOR LAW AND ORDER SITUATION AND AS GOVERNMENT IS CARE TAKER PARTY OF DISPUTED LAND...THEY WILL HAVE THEIR SAY OR SUGGESTIONS IN IT.)

Ayodhya: Fresh moves appear to be afoot to resolve the Ayodhya dispute out of court, three days after the Allahabad High Court verdict in the case.



A sadhu feeds monkeys in a courtyard with pillars for the construction of a Rama temple in Ayodhya. AP

Mohammad Hashim Ansari, one of the main litigants in the title suits, on Sunday met Mahant Gyan Das of Hanumanghari who is also President of Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad to explore the possibility of an amicable solution.

Though Mahant Gyan Das refused to divulge details, 90-year-old Ansari said: "I have initiated the move after being asked by the Sunni Central Wakf Board."

During an hour-long closed door meeting between Gyan Das and Ansari at Hanumanghari, famous Lord Hanuman temple near the makeshift temple on the disputed site, discussions revolved around ways to chalk out an agreement on the 60-year-old temple-mosque dispute.



People stand on a bridge in Ayodhya. AP

"Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad will play the role of a mediator and Gyan Das will talk with Nirmohi Akhara (another key party in the dispute)," Ansari told PTI, adding that the Akhara President was ready for this.

"This issue will be decided in Ayodhya itself and time for an amicable solution has come," he added. Waqf Board counsel Zafaryab Gilani, however, said he was not aware of any such move. The Board had said they would challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.

Nirmohi Akahara, Vaishnavite sect among the Hindus, has been given one-third of the disputed site in Ayodhya by the Allahabad High Court in its majority verdict on Thursday.



A sadhu looks at a monkey in a courtyard with pillars for the construction of a Rama temple in Ayodhya. AP

The other two-thirds portion has been given equally to be shared by the Wakf Board and the side representing Ram Lalla (baby Lord Ram). The Nirmohi Akhara's share will include that part which is shown by the words 'Ram Chabutra' and 'Sita Rasoi' in the outer periphery of the site.

Soon after the verdict, Ansari had called for burying the dispute and making "a fresh start", a view shared by 84-year-old Mahant Bhaskar Das of Nirmohi Akhara.



Hindu devotees pray for the souls of their departed relatives at Rama Ghat on the bank of the Saryu River in Ayodhya. AP

Ram temple ward represented by Muslim corporator

After all the bitterness over the disputed site in Ayodhya, the area in which the makeshift Ram temple is located in this town is represented by a Muslim in the municipality for the past 15 years.

Haji Asad, the corporator of Ramkot ward in this temple town in Uttar Pradesh, says both Hindus and Muslims have been voting for him for the past 15 years and there is no division between them.

"The dispute of the Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid would have been solved much earlier had the political parties not played divisive politics," he said. "I represent the Ramkot ward, where the makeshift Ram temple exists and I get the support of all irrespective of their communities," he said.

Interestingly, besides make Ram temple, famous Hanuman Gari is also located in his ward, which has a mixed population of Hindus and Muslims. "People from all communities vote for me and that is the reason I have represented the ward for such a long time," Asad said.

Be it marriage or any other ceremony, people of all castes and religion gather and there is no feeling of hatred among them, the corporator said. About the High Court decision, Asad said they welcomed it but feels that the issue would linger on due to vote bank politics.



A sadhu reads a newspaper in Ayodhya. AP

"The government should intervene to end the dispute, which is flared by politicians. At the ground we all live with harmony," Haji Asad said. There are many examples of Hindu-Muslim unity in this temple town where there are many mosques, which are being protected and taken care of by Hindus, whenever needed, a local said.

One Mohammad Shariq, who has cremated 1,500 unclaimed bodies -- both of Hindus and Muslims -- is continuing on his mission without caste or religion bias. Also, Ashraf Ali, who owns a flower shop near Ashari Bhawan, supplies flowers and garlands to temples and this is his main source of income.

Locals say the ground situation in Ayodhya is not visible to people outside due to statements issued by political parties on the issue.

Source: PTI