Hindu, Muslim religious leaders resolve to honour SC's Ayodhya verdict

A day after the Supreme Court pronounced in verdict in the land dispute case in Ayodhya, several eminent religious leaders met National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Sunday (November 10) and resolved to honour the top court judgement and pledged unstinted support to the government to maintain peace and order.

Lauding the government and the people for ensuring harmony after Saturday’s verdict, the participants also appealed to maintain peace and tranquillity amidst apprehensions that some anti-national elements may try to “exploit the situation”.

“Those attending the meeting were alive to the fact that certain anti-national and hostile elements, both within and outside the country, may attempt to exploit the situation to harm our national interest,” a joint statement said after the four-hour meeting at Doval’s residence here. The meeting was attended by religious leaders from across the country and members of the Hindu Dharmacharya Sabha and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Also read | Ram temple to come up where Babri mosque was razed in Ayodhya

In a landmark decision on Saturday, the Supreme Court paved the way for the construction of a Ram temple by a government trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya. It also ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in the Hindu holy town.

“The interaction helped to strengthen communication between top religious leaders to maintain a spirit of amity and brotherhood amongst all communities,” the statement said. All the participants reposed full faith in the rule of law and the Constitution, it said.

“The leaders resolved to honour the decision of the Supreme Court and appealed to all countrymen to abide by it, emphasizing that the national interest overrides all other considerations. They extended their full cooperation to the government in ensuring peace, communal harmony and upholding the rule of law,” the statement added. The religious leaders pledged their “unstinted support” to the government in all the measures it may take to maintain peace and order in the society, it said.

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The leaders noted with satisfaction that millions of Indians, belonging to both communities, displayed a great sense of responsibility, sensitivity and restraint in accepting the court verdict, it said. All the participants appreciated the initiative and emphasised the need for a continuous dialogue between various communities in future, it said. They complimented the government for ensuring the safety and security of every individual, it said.

There are some people who may want to create disturbance and this meeting was to ensure that such people do not succeed, Swami Parmatmananda Saraswati said after the meeting. “Everyone expressed resolve to ensure harmony in the country by appealing to their respective followers. In the digital world, there are many in the country and abroad who want to create a disturbance. The meeting was to discuss proactive steps to check such elements,” he told news agency PTI.

The head of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti shrine, Syed Zainul Abedin Ali Khan, said such meetings should be appreciated. “We thank NSA Ajit Doval for calling this meeting. We support such initiatives. Time has come that Hindu-Muslim issues should end and everyone contributes to building the country and improve education and eradicate poverty,” he said.

Also read | Ayodhya: Congress created an opening, BJP scored the goal

Shia cleric Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad said it was remarkable that the countrymen have ensured peace and tranquillity after the verdict. “Not a single disturbance was reported from anywhere. We discussed ways to formalise this arrangement so that dialogue can continue between the two communities and differences can be sorted through discussions,” he said.

Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji of Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh said that solution to every problem in the country lies in the Constitution and it was discussed how a formal arrangement be set up under which such discussions can continue. “The twin tower attack in the US was to divide people, this 9/11 (referring to judgement) was to bring people together. The meeting was to analyse the judgement of the Supreme Court. My view is that the Supreme Court decision has ended differences,” he said.

Also read | 77 arrested in Uttar Pradesh in two days since Ayodhya verdict

“We may not be able to pray together but we can work towards securing country, humanism, soil, and environment together,” he said. “We have been saying that they will honour the verdict of the Supreme Court. When the day came whatever was said about became clear. All apprehensions about law and order post-Supreme Court verdict were proven wrong,” Maulana Asghar Ali Salafi, President, Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadees Hind.

The appeals made by Hindu and Muslim organisations and efforts of the government delivered results, he said. “This meeting was scheduled before the date of the verdict was announced. Now it is taking place after the verdict, it has strengthened the resolve and appeal of Hindu and Muslim spiritual leaders for peace,” he said.

Yoga guru Ramdev said, “Even if there are some questions we will honour the verdict of the Supreme Court to uphold the unity and integrity of the country. This was the most important resolve taken in the meeting. I appealed to all Muslims to contribute to the temple and Hindus to contribute to the mosque. We should take forward such experimental steps.” He added that those who want to divide Hindus and Muslims will not succeed.

(With inputs from agencies)