Mixed response from litigants on Ayodhya verdict postponement

The Supreme Court's order deferring tomorrow's verdict on Ayodhya title suit by Allahabad high court to September 28 has evoked mixed reaction from the litigants of the 60-year-old dispute.

Mahant Bhaskar Das of Nirmohi Akhara, one of the main parties to the title suit, told PTI that the concerned parties who had kept patience for past 60 years can wait for another week, however, Tirlok Nath Pandey representing Ram Lala Virajman in the dispute accused the government.

"We had also favoured a settlement through reconciliation for which we had filed an affidavit in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court last week but that was not possible so now we want a judgment on the vexed issue by court, in near future," Mahant Bhaskar Das said.

"As of now, no party has come forward for talks to resolve the issue through reconciliation... we want that the judgment whether it is in our favour or against is given at the earliest after which the option of approaching the Supreme Court is always open," he said.

Pandey appeared unhappy over the deferment saying, "It appears to be a government tactic which does not want a verdict in the case."

Hashim Ansari, 90, another litigant, who wants the verdict on the vexed issue in his lifetime said he has put his entire life and resources into this case.

"Some political people who feel that their politics would become redundant following the solution to this case have conspired for deferment. The people want a decision by court," he said.

Zafaryab Jilani of Sunni Central Waqf Board said a reply would be sent as desired by the apex court.

"There is no scope of any amicable settlement through reconciliation as all the parties, even the RSS and VHP want a decision through court," Jilani added.

In Lucknow, former BJP leader and chief minister of the state when the Babri mosque was demolished in 1992, Kalyan Singh apprehended that the deferment could again cause inordinate delay in the resolution of the decades long case.

If the verdict is not pronounced by September 29, it would again take years as one of the judges in the three judge bench is retiring this month and a fresh bench would have to be constituted and the proceedings would be started afresh, Singh said.

Singh said Muslims should be asked by the political leadership to cooperate in constructing temple or else the Central government can bring a bill in the Parliament for enacting a law to pave way for a Ram temple.