Government appeals for peace after Ayodhya verdict

Wary of strong reactions to the Allahabad high court's judgment on the Ayodhya dispute, due to be delivered on September 24, the government today appealed for peace and tranquility, saying that no attempt should be made by any section of the population to provoke others or hurt their sentiments.

With eight days to go for the verdict, the Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met in New Delhi and adopted a resolution appealing for peace after the judgment is pronounced.

"It goes without saying that the judgment needs to be treated with the utmost respect," said the cabinet's resolution read out to the media by information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni.

"At the same time, we must remember the fact that the judgment, at this stage, is one step in the judicial process. The determination of the issues need not necessarily end with this judgment unless it is accepted by all parties," it said.

The government said, "In case any of the parties feels that further judicial consideration is required, there are legal remedies available which could be resorted to."

Keeping this in mind, the government said it was necessary for all sections of the people to maintain equanimity and tranquillity in the aftermath of the judgment.

The resolution was adopted against the backdrop of worries in the government that there could be a communal flare-up after the high court decided the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit.

"There should be no attempt whatsoever made by any section of the people to provoke any other section or to indulge in any expression of emotion that would hurt the feelings of other people," the cabinet resolution said.

The appeal came a day before the special bench of the high court was to meet to make a last-ditch effort to find an amicable solution to the dispute.

Meanwhile, top leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad held a marathon meeting in Delhi to discuss the issue and decided not to adopt a hard-line posture if the decision was against construction of a temple at the disputed site. They favoured an amicable solution.

VHP president Ashok Singhal and general secretary Pravin Togadia reached the RSS office here this morning and held discussions with RSS sarsanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat.

Leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband also appealed to people to respect the verdict.

"We have full confidence in the judicial system of the country. We appeal to people to respect the verdict of the court and maintain peace and communal harmony in the country," the seminary's deputy vice-chancellor, Maulana Abdul Khalique Madrasi, said in Muzaffarnagar.

Supporting the view of the Deoband seminary, Uttar Pradesh Imams' Organisation president Mufti Zulfikar Ali said, "We should respect the verdict and if any party is not satisfied with the judgment it could appeal to the Supreme Court."

The Allahabad high court is expected to pronounce its judgment on the 60-year-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit on September 24.

Before delivering its verdict, the special bench has called the lawyers of all the parties to the dispute tomorrow to find ways to resolve the case through reconciliation.

The government appealed to the people to ensure that the delivery of the judgment was seen in its "proper perspective as part of a judicial process" and maintain "peace and order" after it.

"It is important for all to ensure that the highest traditions of Indian culture and respect for all religions are fully maintained," the cabinet resolution said.

Noting that the country was "firmly and resolutely" on the path of inclusive growth, it said, "Nothing must be said or done and nothing must happen that may cause us to deviate from our goals and our objectives."

Speaking to reporters at the Sangh's Delhi headquarters Keshav Kunj, RSS leader Ram Madhav said the organisation was hopeful that the court verdict would be "in favour of building the temple."

He also said that the best way to solve the issue would be through legislation by Parliament.

"We call upon the government to explore the possibility of bringing legislation facilitating the construction of temple," he said.

He reiterated the Sangh's stand that it favoured construction of a "grand Ram temple" at the disputed site.

In Ayodhya, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh alleged that all the political parties, including the BJP, had adopted a policy of appeasing Muslims.

He said construction of the temple was a matter of faith of crores of Hindus and did not come under the court's purview.

Taking pot-shots at his former party, Singh said the BJP had deviated from issues like common civil code and Ram temple construction and was "befooling" Hindus.

In Lucknow, counsel for the Sunni Central Board of Waqfs and the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha submitted before the high court's officer on special duty that the verdict should not be deferred for any reason.

They were objecting to two separate applications filed on September 13 seeking directions to defer the verdict, citing apprehension of breach of peace and the upcoming Commonwealth Games.