Ayodhya: The five acres of land to be allocated for building a mosque under the Supreme Court verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute should be within the 67 acres of acquired land in Ayodhya according to main litigant in the case Iqbal Ansari, and several other local Muslim leaders. The central government had acquired the land including the disputed site in 1991.
“If they want to give us the land, they must give us according to our convenience and only in that acquired land of 67 acres. Then we will take it. Otherwise we will reject the offer, as people are saying ‘Go out of Chaudah Kos and construct Masjid there’. This is not fair,” Iqbal Ansari said.
It should be stated here that soon after the judgement, Ansari had said Saturday that he will not file a review plea.
Maulana Jalal Ashraf, a local cleric, said Muslims can buy land on their own to build a mosque and are not dependent on the government for it.
“If the court or the government wants to pacify our sentiments to some extent , the five acre land must be given to in the acquired area as many graveyards and Dargaah including that of 18th century Sufi saint Qazi Qudwah are in that area,” said Ashraf.
Khaliq Ahmad Khan, general secretary of All India Milli Council, expressed similar views.
Haji Mahboob , who was also a litigant from Muslim side, said, “We will not accept this lollypop. They must make clear that where they (government) want to give us the land.”
Haji Asad Ahmad, Corporator of Ayodhya Municipal Corporation, said the community does not want any land in lieu of Babri Masjid. “If the court or government wants to give land for mosque they must give it in the acquired area of 67 acres, otherwise we don’t want donation,” he asserted.
Maulana Baadahah Khan, Ayodhya president of Jamiat Ulema Hind, said the Muslim side was fighting the case for Babri Masjid, not for any other land. “We don’t want any land for mosque anywhere. Instead we offer this land also for Ram Mandir,” stated Khan.
Sources meanwhile said that the Uttar Pradesh government has started the process of identifying alternative sites in and around Ayodhya for the proposed mosque. An official, on the condition of anonymity, said, “We have been asked to find the land for mosque at prominent and attractive place.”
PTI
