Mixed response to apex court order

 
In Ayodhya, the tense atmosphere prevailing for the past few days eased a bit with even the security personnel seen relaxing after the apex court order became known to them.
While Nirmohi Akhara, one of the main Hindu plaintiffs in the suits, has welcomed the deferment of the verdict, the main Muslim plaintiff Mohammad Hashim Ansari was “disappointed” at the deferment order.

“It is a welcome order...it has given a few days’ time for the parties to the dispute to resolve the matter amicably through mutual negotiations,” said Baba Bhaskar Das, a saint with Nirmohi Akhara in Ayodhya on Thursday.

“There is nothing that can not be resolved through discussions, provided there is a will to do that,” he said further.

Incidentally, the Nirmohi Akhara had also filed an application in the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court during the hearing of the petition seeking deferment of the verdict stating that it wanted to resolve the matter through out-of-court negotiations.

“There is bound to be a court verdict....it could come within days or may take some more time...the apex court has been misled,” Ansari told reporters in Ayodhya.

Sunni Central Waqf Board counsel Zafaryab Jilani said he did not see any hope of an out-of-court settlement. “Several prime ministers and chief ministers and other personalities made several attempts to settle the matter amicably but were unsuccessful...I do not see any hope,” Jilani said.

“We have been awaiting a verdict for the past 60 years...we are ready to wait for five more days,” Jilani said.

‘Disappointment’

All India Hindu Punuruddhar Samiti, one of the defendants in the suits, counsel Ranjana Agnihotri also expressed “disappointment” over deferment of the verdict.

“We were awaiting the judgement of the high court eagerly...naturally we are disappointed,” Agnihotri said. She also said that the matter should be settled in the court “once and for all”.

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh said the apex court order could result in further delay in pronouncing a judgement in the vexed issue.

In the temple town of Ayodhya, however, public heaved a sigh of relief after the Supreme Court order in the hope that the security restrictions would now be lifted for a couple of days.