'Talibani mindset': Naqvi, Owaisi in war of words after Ayodhya verdict

Minority Affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday (November 9) slammed AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s critical remarks on the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya judgement. He said that some people have a “Talibani mindset” and “no trust” in the judiciary of the country.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi had earlier in the day expressed his dissatisfaction with the top court verdict in the Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case, saying it was a “victory of belief over facts.”

Also read | Top court is supreme, but not infallible: Owaisi on Ayodhya verdict

Slamming Owaisi, Naqvi said that some people are suffering “from the disease of Talibani mindset”. “These people have no trust on the Constitution or judiciary of the country,” the senior BJP leader told news agency PTI. He said that these people should understand that the country will not allow any person to disturb our peace, harmony and brotherhood.

The Supreme Court in a unanimous verdict on Saturday cleared the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya, and directed the Centre to allot a five-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque.

Also read | Supreme Court verdict a red letter day in India’s history: Uddhav

Earlier, reacting to the Supreme Court verdict, Naqvi said the judgment should be welcomed and respected wholeheartedly. “Its our collective responsibility to strengthen unity, social harmony, brotherhood in the country,” he said.

After the judgement, he said he was not satisfied with the verdict and that the top court was supreme but not infallible. “We have full faith in the constitution. We were fighting for our right. We don’t need five acre land as donation. We should reject this five acre land offer. Don’t patronize us,” he told the media.

Responding to him, Naqvi said that the decision should not be seen as a victory or loss for anyone. “Nowhere, the verdict should be excessively celebrated as a victory, nor there should be a brouhaha over the defeat. We should completely avoid this,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)