Muslim religious leaders divided on Ayodhya dispute resolution

New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) Several Muslim religious leaders on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court (SC) observation for resolving the Ayodhya's Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute through amicable settlement though the Babri Masjid Action Committee and others did not agree.

Welcoming the apex court observation, Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari said: "We should be ready to solve the matter through discussion and if we fail to come up with any solution, then the matter is in any case with the Supreme Court."

"We will accept whatever the SC decision is. All problems can be solved through discussion," Bukhari told IANS.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday favoured an amicable settlement to the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya and offered to act as mediator, which was welcomed by the BJP but ruled out by the Babri Masjid Action Committee and others.

"Muslims in India have never been against the Ram temple. Political interference failed the earlier attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue," said Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, one of the leading Muslim religious leader.

"The stand of the Muslim Personal Law Board has always been that it will accept the Supreme Court judgment."

Speaking on the probable modalities of the discussion, Rashid said: "My opinion, which I think is also the opinion of the majority of Indians, is that the religious sentiment of both communities should be respected. If leaders of the two communities come together with the right intent, the issue will definitely get resolved."

"The matter concerns Hindu and Muslim clerics and I think they should sit together and try to find out a solution," said Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, chief of All India Imam Organisation.

On the other hand, Babri Masjid Action Committee convenor Zafaryab Jilani as well as All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi virtually ruled out an out-of-court settlement.

"An amicable solution is impossible. This has to be dealt in the court itself. If the court passes any order to that effect (amicable solution), we will think about future course of action," said Jilani.

"We have faith if the Chief Justice of India himself mediates or nominates a team of Supreme Court judges or court itself hears the matter. But we are not willing to accept an out-of-court settlement," he added.

"Several rounds of talks on earlier occasion have failed to yield result. That is why the AIMPLB had decided that it will not go for any more talks," Owaisi said, adding that the "case was about the (land) title which the Allahabad High Court wrongly decided as a partnership case."

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