Author: Annapurna Jha
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: October 9, 2010
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/288716/Cong-divided-on-Ayodhya-verdict.html
The sharp differences within the Congress
over the Ayodhya verdict have started coming to fore with party general secretary
Digvijay Singh terming the Allahabad High Court judgement on Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri
Masjid title suit as "the best judgement under present circumstances
as it has recognised the rights of Hindus and Muslims both".
Singh's statement contradicts the stand taken
by the Congress Working Committee, Union Minister Kapil Sibal and the UPA
Government, which have maintained that the matter should go to the Supreme
Court for a final decision.
In an interview to Karan Thapar for CNN IBN's
Devil Advocate programme, Singh backed the popular perception that Ayodhya
is the birthplace of lord Ram.
When asked if the court should have said it
can't determine if this is the Ram Janmasthan, Singh replied, "The perception
is that Ayodhya is the birthplace of lord Ram."
Though he pointed out that there were a number
of temples in Ayodhya which claim that lord Ram was born there, but he did
not agree that judgement ignored this fact.
"The idols have been placed there. It
became an issue that could lead to more dispute if the idols are disturbed.
In the present circumstances, there couldn't have been a better judgement,''
His logic for it being the best judgement
was "because it has recognised the rights of the Hindus and Muslims both".
He said, "There has to be a judgement
which is a win-win situation for all."
On whether the Muslims felt disappointed and
despondent after the verdict, Singh said, "I think there is no need for
despondency. The rights of Muslims have also been recognised...."
However, the best way to resolve the dispute
was to come to some kind of a "reconciliation" between the two parties
and for "God's sake" leave politicians and political parties out
of it, opined the Congress general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh.
He pointed out that the Congress has always
held that the issue should be resolved out of court but if it cannot be done,
"we should accept the court verdict".
Singh, however, maintained that the demolition
of the Babri Masjid cannot be condoned and the matter has to be taken to its
logical end.
In sharp contrast to Singh's opinion, his
party has been maintaining that the verdict did not condone the demolition
of the Babri mosque and the high court verdict was just part of the judicial
process and the matter would ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court.
Singh's comments were also supported on Friday
by a party spokesman who said that the high court verdict was the best possible
judgement in the present situation.
This again was in sharp contrast to the middle
path adopted by the Congress Working Committee, headed by party president
Sonia Gandhi, which decided by consensus to leave it to the Supreme Court
to take a final decision on the titles suit, and in the meanwhile support,
but not initiate, negotiations for a settlement of the 60-year-old dispute.
The Government also wants the matter to be
decided by the Supreme Court and maintains that the high court verdict should
not be treated as the final decision. The PMO sources have indicated that
the Government would wait for some party involved in the Ayodhya dispute to
move the Supreme Court where the matter would be finally decided.
Earlier, Sibal had said that offering prayers
at a particular site does not entitle a community or individual to claim ownership
rights. He had hoped the Supreme Court would settle the Ayodhya issue.
Referring to the verdict, he had said, "It
may give you the right to continue to pray there, but not possession. Maybe,
maybe not, this is what the Supreme Court will have to decide."
