Govt urged not to 'cave in' to VHP's Ram temple demand

With the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) stepping up heat over the Ram Janma Bhoomi dispute in Ayodhya, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), a prominent Muslim body, has urged the government “not to cave in” to the saffron outfit's demands.

The VHP passed a resolution last week, urging Modi government to bring in an Ordinance to facilitate construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

A delegation of the VHP leaders also called on President Ram Nath Kovind on October 5 and handed over a copy of their resolution.

Expressing “serious concern” over the move, JIH president Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, who is also the vice president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), said that the VHP's “posture” on the issue “is leading to polarization of society along communal lines.”

“It goes against the democratic nature of the Indian polity,” he added.

Umari stressed that all the Muslim organisations have “time and again” reiterated that they will abide by the court's judgment on the issue, “irrespective of whether it goes in our favor or against,” he said.

“Is it not commendable that the minority community whose mosque was illegally destroyed is ready to follow what the judiciary says but the other petitioners are showing utter disregard and scant respect by openly challenging the government, the courts and due process of law?” he asked.

However, the VHP and others, without waiting for the outcome of the title suit, are trying to pressurize the government and the judiciary by insisting that a temple be built there, he charged.

“This does not bode well for our nation. We urge the government to abide by its constitutional duty and not cave in to the demands of these parochial forces,’’ Umari said.