The Hindu : Muslim Law Board against 'move' on handing over land

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Saturday, Feb 01, 2003

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Muslim Law Board against 'move' on handing over land

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Jan. 31. The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board has opposed the Central Government's "move" to hand over part of the acquired land in Ayodhya to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad - controlled Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mohd. Abdul Rahim Quraishi, AIMPLB secretary and S. Q. R. Iyas, convener, AIMPLB's Committee on Babri Masjid, said that any attempt at handing over the land would violate the Supreme Court order. The court had made it clear in December 2001 that no portion of the acquired land can be given to anyone till the final disposal of the case.

They said the VHP demand was illegal and would be a test for the Centre to prove its credentials in upholding the rule of law. The so-called "dharma sansad" on this issue on February 22 was "ill-intentioned and ill-motivated". The VHP was trying to arouse communal passions and hatred against Muslims and create an emotionally surcharged atmosphere to favour the BJP in the coming Assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

They said the VHP has long been trying to mislead Hindus that no court could sit in judgement on the issue claiming it to be a question of faith and therefore a court verdict was not acceptable. "It is a fallacy. The question before the court is not about faith or Sri Ramchanderji being an avatar. The question is whether any Sri Rama temple physically stood there and was displaced to build Babri masjid ? It has to be decided on the basis of evidence, rightly one of the main issues in the case and every law-abiding citizen of the country should respect and abide by the judicial verdict".

On their part, Muslims, through the AIMPLB, had time and again declared that they would accept and abide by the final verdict, they said. If the Centre came up with a proposal to satisfy the Muslims and create a congenial atmosphere, the AIMPLB was prepared to hold talks.

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