JOIN USRelief tinged with disappointment
While many of the Hindus welcomed the verdict as the court accepted their contention that Lord Ram was born at the disputed place, a section of the Hindu saints and others felt that the division of the acquired land into three parts was not possible.
A section of the Muslims also expressed dissatisfaction at the verdict. “What is the logic behind dividing the land into three parts...it appears to be an attempt to please all sections”, said Mohammad Shafique, a local resident. “The verdict is disappointing for us”, was the refrain of a majority of Muslim residents of Ayodhya.
Surpirsingly many Hindus also appeared to be dissatisfied with the court verdict. Ram Janmabhumi Trust president Mahant Nitya Gopal Das said that they would move the Supreme Court to challenge the order.
“How can we be joyous...there cannot be half joy or quarter victory. We want the entire land. One third land for Muslims is something out of the blue for us”, he told Deccan Herald from Ayodhya.
The town, on the whole, expressed a sense of relief over the verdict with the common people hoping that their ordeal would come to an end following the high court verdict.
Chief priest of the makeshift Ram temple Satyendra Das said that the ruling has come after years of litigation. “The dispute should end here”, he added. Das said the main demand of the Hindus (that Lord Ram was born at the disputed site) has been accepted by the court and “the matter must end here”, he said.
He said any further confrontation or litigation in Supreme Court would only keep the issue alive which was not good for peace and tranquility and appealed to all the concerned parties to respect the verdict.
Saints and sadhus however felt that it was a victory for them as their stand on the disputed site had been upheld by the judiciary. Despite a ban on slogan shouting and processions, the sadhus at various temples and akharas in Ayodhya shouted slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” and ‘Ram Lalla Hum Ayenge, Mandir Wahin Banayenge’ (Ram Lalla we shall come and construct the temple at the disputed site).