Who Stands Where On Ayodhya Verdict

Those Unhappy With The Verdict

VHP: Wants to go in appeal so that the entire plot is allotted for a temple. "The 3,500 sq ft of land allotted to us is not enough to house even the garbha griha of the grand temple which is proposed to be built. We are confident the SC will set aside the high court ruling," says VHP leader Ashok Singhal. 

UP Sunni Central Waqf Board: Against any out-of-court settlement. Will appeal against Allahabad High Court order. "This is not the end. The verdict will be final only when the Supreme Court decides so,” says its counsel, Zafaryab Jilani.

Samajwadi Party: Is opposed to the judgement. "The country is run by the Constitution, not by faith," says Mulayam Singh Yadav. 

MIM: All for going in appeal. "We have a strong legal ground. The best way is to move SC," says MIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Possible Scenarios

• Apex court upholds the Allahabad High Court order. Will be a double blow for a Muslim side already on the backfoot.
• SC quashes high court verdict. Would be construed as minority appeasement by the Hindu side, with attendant problems.

Those For A Negotiated Settlement

Hashim Ansari

First Muslim litigant. Says if the issue can be sorted out through talks “today, tomorrow or after two months”, it must be done.

Mahant Gyan Das, head, Hanuman Garhi. Backs Ansari for an amicable settlement.

Mahant Bhaskar Das, head, Nirmohi Akhara. Says it's pointless to drag the case again to court. 

Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, Shia cleric and senior vice-president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board. Claims he has a compromise formula but declines to divulge details before October 16.  

Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangimahali,

member, AIMPLB executive. Says no point in starting yet another court battle. “The title dispute which just ended took six decades to be resolved. How many more years would a fresh court battle take?”

Possible Scenarios

• Aware of the pitfalls of appeal, mosque and temple are built side by side on the disputed land that has been trifurcated.
• The Muslims give up their one-third allocation and are given alternative site to build mosque.

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Those Who Want To Respect Court Verdict

BJP: Does not favour going in appeal. "BJP is not in favour of taking the high court judgement on Ayodhya to the Supreme Court. If through consensus and reconciliation with Muslims, a temple can be built at the site, it would be very good,” says party president Nitin Gadkari.

Congress: Respects the verdict but says those who want to appeal are free to do so. "The judgement is indeed an important document. But it is not operational. It is a fair assumption that appeals may be lodged," says Union home minister P. Chidambaram.

RSS:The organisation is for a negotiated settlement and is not inclined to go in appeal. The judgement is not a win or loss for anybody, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said after the verdict. “We invite everybody, including Muslims, to help build the temple."

 Possible Scenarios

• Evolve a formula which will satisfy Muslims and Hindus.
• Muslims find the dice loaded, allow construction of temple on entire site.

(Courtesy : Outlook Magazine, 18/10/2010)