Muslim clerics oppose further delay in Ayodhya verdict

LUCKNOW - Muslim religious leaders Sunday joined their Hindu counterparts in opposing any further postponement of the Allahabad High Court’s verdict on the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi issue, noting both sides have reposed faith in the court’s decision.

“Isn’t the issue already pending for too long? Sure enough we also want that the dispute reaches its logical conclusion for which we have reposed complete faith in the country’s judiciary,” said Maulana Khalid Rasheed, the Naib Imam of Lucknow’s Idgah and a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) executive.

“As a member of the Muslim Personal Law Board, I would also like to urge the Supreme Court not to allow any further delay in the high court’s verdict and I am sure the court will not ignore the popular sentiments of the people,” the Maulana told IANS here.

Maulana Mirza Mohammad Athar, president of the All India Shia Muslim Personal Law Board also wondered how any last-minute effort for an amicable settlement would bear fruit when similar attempts in the past had failed.

The prestigious Darul-uloom of Deoband also appealed against any delay in the verdict, with its Pro-Vice Chancellor Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi saying: “It is high time the long pending issue was resolved and any further deferment of the final verdict would only vitiate the atmosphere.”

“For once, both sides had clearly stated that they would abide by the court order, then why all the fuss about postponing the verdict and making attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue, which has not worked in the past,” Maulana Madrasi asked while speaking to IANS on the phone from Deoband.

A three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia would Sep 28 take a final decision on the question on when the verdict, originally slated for Sep 24, would be delivered.