The Hindu : Opposition welcomes Ayodhya verdict

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 01, 2003

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National

Opposition welcomes Ayodhya verdict

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 31. The Opposition today welcomed the Supreme Court ruling rejecting the Centre's plea for vacating the ban imposed last year on performing any religious activity in the undisputed land in Ayodhya.

"It also vindicates what we have been saying all along'' said the Congress spokesperson, Abhishek Singhvi. "The court has always given unambiguous answers," he added. The CPI (M) politburo said: "It is the responsibility of the Government to control and contain forces such as the VHP and the Bajrang Dal who are brazenly talking in terms of violating the court order." The CPI said the unanimous judgement was significant in the context of the "offensive" of the Sangh Parivar, particularly the VHP, and the "dubious stand" of the Vajpayee Government. The All-India Forward Bloc said the verdict was a "victory of the secular tradition of our country". Shambhu Shrivastwa, general secretary of the Samata Party, a key NDA constituent, said the Government should ensure that the status quo was respected by all concerned. The Janata Dal (Secular) general secretary, Danish Ali, said the judgment was a "victory for the stand of the secular forces in the country". The All-Indian Muslim-e-Mushawarat said it expected the Vajpayee Government to stop "all legal and administrative support to the demands" of the VHP and the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas for delivering the core of the acquired area to them and to permit them to start any "unlawful construction of the unauthorised temple on the unlawfully constructed concrete platform".

The AIMMM president, Syed Shahabuddin, demanded that the Government press the Sangh Parivar and the VHP to stop their agitation and commit themselves to accepting the final judicial verdict and wait for the legal disposal of the acquired area. The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board said the judgment had vindicated its stand that the total land was disputed and that the status quo should be maintained till the final adjudication of the title suits by the Allahabad High Court.

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