Muslim body rejects any reconciliation bid over Ayodhya

New Delhi - A body of Muslim scholars and clerics from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh today rejected the verdict of the Allahabad High Court on the Ayodhya title suit or any reconciliation bid and demanded that the Centre clear its stand on the issue. Led by Shahi Imam of the Delhi Jama Masjid Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari, nearly 40 scholars met here and passed a resolution in this regard.

"We reject the judgement of the Allahabad High Court and demand that the central government express its stand clearly with regards to this verdict. We also demand that the Congress party make its stand clear," Bukhari told reporters.

He said they have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding the issue and sought time to meet him. "We hold the Congress directly responsible for all the anti-Masjid acts perpetrated right from the raking up of the Babri masjid issue till this verdict.

Congress party, on one hand, kept the Muslims under deception while, on the other hand, it helped communal forces," Bukhari alleged. To a question if representatives of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board were present at the convention, Bukhari replied in the negative.

"Some AIMPLB members are involved in some back-door talking about some sort of negotiations. We did not invite them because we do not want to be part of any such talks.

What kind of compromise formula will they work out when Muslims will not settle for anything less than a Masjid at that site," he said. Asked if he was seeking the support of other political parties as Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had met him, Bukhari said, "Support of anybody who is with the Muslim community is welcome".

He said the convention would be a party to the appeal before the Supreme Court.
PTI, Thu, Oct 7