Iqbal Ansari, son of Hashim Ansari, the main Muslim litigant, says the government can decide on the adjoining area.
NEW DELHI: At a time when the Centre has moved the Supreme Court seeking a nod to return the excess 67 acres of land (except the disputed 2.77 acres land)—around the disputed Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi plot to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas—that the Centre had acquired more than 26 years ago, The Sunday Guardian spoke to Iqbal Ansari, son of Hashim Ansari, the main Muslim litigant in the Babri Masjid- Ram Janmabhoomi case. Excerpts:
Q: The Centre has submitted a petition in the Supreme Court that the excess 67 acres of land be returned to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas trust. How do you view this development?
A: The main dispute is on the 2.77 acres of land where the Babri Masjid stood and for which the litigation is still going on and for this particular area, it will be decided by the court. The rest of the adjoining area which is being talked about now, belongs to the government; so whether the government wants to give it to somebody or use it by themselves, it is up to them to decide. I have no problem to this and neither will any Muslim have any problem with this. As far as the disputed land is concerned where our Masjid stood, the court will give a decision on it and whatever the decision would be, whether for or against the Masjid, it would be accepted.
Q: You had recently told a news channel that if the disputed land is given for the construction of the Ram Mandir, you have no problem with it. Do you still stick to it?
A: What I said is that there is enough land in Ayodhya and the whole of Ayodhya is the abode of Lord Ram; so wherever in Ayodhya they want to build a Ram Mandir, they can. But as far as the Babri Masjid is concerned, the whole world had seen where the Babri Mosque had stood and how it was broken down, so let the Court decide, the matter is in the court.
Q: This issue is being dragged on for years and all political parties have been using this some way or the other in build their political fortunes. How do you see the politicisation of the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case?
A: It is very sad that this has become so politicised and because of this, so many people from both the communities—Hindus and Muslims—had to lose their lives. But for politicians it has become their election issue. No political party wants a solution to this issue. Every now and then, people come here to flare up communal sentiments for their political gains. I would like to say keep away from this kind of divisive politics and such politicians.
Q: It is being repeatedly said that the Congress is “deliberately” trying to delay the hearing in this case in court. What do you have to say to this?
A: All political parties in India are playing this dirty politics over the Babri Masjid- Ram Janmabhoomi issue. Every political party is slinging mud on the other. But yes, it was during the time of the Congress that the idol of Lord Ram was placed; it was also during the time of the Congress when the locks of the Babri Masjid were opened and again it was at the time when Narasimha Rao of the Congress was in power, that the Babri Masjid was brought down. So, whoever says only the BJP is bad, I don’t agree. I would say that every government since then lacked the will to solve this problem and all of them wanted that the Hindus and Muslims should keep fighting for their political gains.
Q: Do you not think that this could be and should be solved mutually and amicably by all the parties outside the court. And is there any chance now that it could be solved mutually?
A: For mutual agreements, several people had come here but all of them failed. Even my father had taken multiple initiatives to solve this problem by mutually agreed points among all the parties, but then again, politics was played and it could not happen. What I think now is that only the court can give a decision on this. It is the responsibility of the court to give a decision of the matter soon. Whatever the court decides and whoever the court gives the disputed land to, it will be accepted.