Court Verdict: Defeat to none...Victory to the Indian Nation

Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

01 October 2010: After many years of dispute and litigation and many days of anxiety and apprehension prior to the pronouncement of the verdict on the disputed site at Ayodhya on Thursday, 30th September 2010, the aftermath of the verdict proved to be a great relief to the entire population of this great nation. The verdict of the court showed that it was not a defeat to any one of the parties involved in the litigation, but victory to the Indian nation.

 

With the verdict of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court in favour of dividing the disputed site at Ayodhya among the three chief litigants, the reaction from different sections of the people in general though varied and measured, there was overall calm throughout the country and all major political parties and religious groups showed remarkable restraint in their reaction. Coupled with the tremendous security arrangements that the Central and State governments had set in motion much in advance of the court verdict and the general atmosphere that was created by all concerned parties pledging to accept the court verdict, the people of the country remained calm and manifested their faith in the judiciary and proved to the world that India is a matured and responsible nation. This is indeed a victory to the people of India.

 

The outcome of the sixty years old dispute and litigation on the site of Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid had been of great interest to the media both Indian and foreign. There were hundreds of reporters from both print and electronic media covering the verdict and reaction to it. It should be said that the media had behaved in the most responsible manner not becoming the agents of rumour mongering and mischief, but disseminating the correct information as and when it was made available to them.

 

No doubt that there was tension all around the country and apprehension of fringe elements in both communities creating law and order problems if the verdict was not of their liking. However, with majority of the people being indifferent to the outcome of the judgement and all the parties involved in  the dispute reiterating their faith in the judiciary and a promise to abide by the court verdict  completely marginalised the extreme elements in both the communities. Schools and colleges being shut down, security being on high alert and the general public being on their guard, the communal elements and trouble makers were pushed to a corner and the nation could breathe an air of safety and security without any apprehension of violence from any quarters.

 

 

The leaders of  various religious groups and political parties were showed exemplary restraint and maturity in their reaction to the court verdict. The RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat has expressed satisfaction over the judgement of Allahabad High Court on the verdict of disputed Ayodhya title suit and said that there would be an obvious sense of joy but that should be contained to maintain secular harmony. He also appealed to all sections of society to exercise restraint and maintain calm. Further he said that the judgement has paved the way for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The judgement is not a victory or defeat for anybody and invited everyone, including Muslims, to help in building the Ram temple and urged everyone to forget the bitterness of the past and all should come forward and demonstrate a national unity.

 

However, the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM), one of the early litigants in the Ayodhya title suits said that it would challenge the Allahabad High Court order to divide the “Ramjanambhoomi” land into three parts.

 

Ninety year old Hashim Ansari, the lone surviving litigant in the Ayodhya title suits, said that he would not pursue the matter any further. He said that for him it is a closed chapter and Hindus should now be allowed to build the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He appealed the Muslim leadership to end the dispute and not to pursue the matter in the Supreme Court and said that he would appeal the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, UP Sunni Central Board of Waqf and Babri Masjid Action Committee to close the matter.

 

However, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has expressed its view that the Allahabad high court verdict on the Ayodhya title suits should be challenged in the Supreme Court, but a final decision on the future course of action would be taken in the executive committee meeting that would be held shortly.

 

The Union government and the Congress are relieved after the country reacted with maturity to the Allahabad high court’s verdict on the disputed Ayodhya site. They are, however, not lowering their guard. In a statement issued after the cabinet committee on security (CCS) took stock of the situation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stressed on maintaining vigil against disruptive elements.

 

After a core committee meeting, the BJP asserted that the verdict, “which upholds the right of Hindus to construct a temple in the garbh griha is a significant step … towards construction of a grand temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram.” It lauded the “expert opinion” that there were remains of a religious Hindu structure at the site where the Babri Masjid stood. The party believed the verdict would open a new chapter in national integration. Murli Manohar Joshi said acceptance of the verdict by all would be a fitting reply to the “enemies of India.”

 

Since the pronouncement of the verdict by the three learned and honourable judges-D V Sharma, S U Khan and S. Agarwal on Thursday, 30th September 2010, everyone, including the RSS, the BJP, the Congress, the Left parties, Muslim clergies, sadhus and even the man on the street reacted in most responsible manner reposing their faith in India’s democratic tradition and judiciary. The  judgment could also be seen as an important and significant way to put an end once and for all to the historical dispute and write a new chapter in the history  of this great nation-a nation of mature democracy where  diverse culture, different religions and various languages and traditions had lived in harmony and will also live in unity for years to come.