Ayodha verdict triumph of Hindu fanaticism: Pakistani editorial

ISLAMABAD - The Allahabad High Court verdict on the Babri Masjid issue - trifurcating the disputed land into one part for Muslims and two parts for Hindus - is a victory for Hindu fanaticism and not conducive for peace in the long run, a Pakistani paper said Saturday.

“How did the court accept the claims of two other parties over the land on which the Babri Masjid stood without dispute for more than 500 years? Can a temple come up besides a mosque and the ‘azaan’ go with the ringing bells and the ‘namaz’ with idol worship? Will it possible to maintain peace at such a time?” the editorial in the Urdu dily Nawa-i-Waqt said

“The situation will continue to be a headache for the government,” it said.

Terming the judgment of the high court as in the “favour of Hindu fanatics”, the editorial alleged that the verdict came “under the government’s supervision and overwhelmingly kept political considerations in mind”.

It said it was not understandable why Hindu fanatics had accused Emperor Babar, “who never interfered with the religion of his subjects, believed in protecting places of worship”, of demolishing a temple to build a mosque.

“It was only Hindu fanatics like (Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K.) Advani who raised the issue for political gains and now are demanding that the sites at Mathura and Kashi be also handed over to them,” it said, adding it was “these outrageous demands and this court decision that had disappointed not only the Muslims of India but Muslims worldwide”.

“Are these examples of India’s famed secularism,” the editorial asked.