Oldest Ayodhya litigant Ansari dies

Hashim Ansari, the oldest litigant in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute who was associated with the case since 1949, died here on Wednesday. He was 95.

Ansari breathed his last at his residence due to heart-related ailments, according to his son Iqbal. Born in Ayodhya, Ansari was the first to file the suit on the matter in the court of the civil judge of Faizabad in 1949.

Ansari along with six others became the main plaintiff in the ‘Ayodhya title suit’ filed by the Sunni Central Waqf Board in the court.

In 2010, the Allahabad High Court in its majority verdict allotted one-third of the disputed site in Ayodhya to Nirmohi Akhara.

The other two-thirds portion has been given equally to be shared by the Waqf Board and the side representing Ram Lalla.

Soon after the verdict, Ansari had called for burying the dispute and making “a fresh start”. In his attempt to find an out-of-court resolution to the dispute, Ansari had in February last year said that he will involve prominent members of the minority community for a peaceful conclusion to the matter.

Ansari also met Akhara Parishad president Mahant Gyan Das to discuss a new proposal for resolution of the dispute.

The formula for out-of-court settlement talked about the 70 acres of disputed premises accommodating both mosque and temple with a partition wall which will be 100 ft high. Ansari had also stated that he wants to create a mass awareness and gather the support of community leaders for the cause.

Ansari had said, “This is neither one man’s job nor a one-man show. If we want to find a peaceful solution to this more than 60-year old problem that has claimed many innocent lives in the communal riots, it is necessary that responsible people of Muslim community and religious leaders must come out to discuss it.”

The negotiation process, which started after the September 30, 2010, Allahabad High Court verdict, was largely being supported by a cross section of the civil society and religious leaders from both communities. Reacting to Ansari’s death, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad said hardliners should take a lesson from Ansari’s life.

VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma said, “Hashim was like a bubble in water. His mindset was different from other Muslim plaintiffs and hardliners. This is the time for mourning and grief.”Convener of Babri Masjid Action Committee Zafaryab Jilani expressed grief over the death of Ansari.

DH reports from Lucknow
Hashim was 36-year-old when he filed the case. “I do not think there will be a decision (on title suits) during my lifetime,” he had told DH two years ago.

Ansari felt that the politicians did not want resolution of the matter. “I am fed up with the delay...the politicians do want a resolution of the matter...they will lose an issue if a solution is found,” he had said.