The BJP on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s suggestion of an out-of-court settlement of the Ayodhya dispute, and said aggrieved parties should keep in mind its “sensitivity” while discussing the matter.
On the other hand, the Congress came out with a guarded response on Ayodhya issue, saying there should either be a “consensus-based” solution, which will go a long way in ensuring lasting peace and goodwill, or the apex court should adjudicate the case on merit.
“The Supreme Court has called for an out-of-court settlement between the aggrieved parties. The parties should resolve the issue amicably by talking to each other. We welcome this step and I believe they should have talks outside the court,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said in New Delhi.
The party will study in detail the observations made by the apex court, which has said the issue is sensitive and sentimental and is related to faith of millions of people, he said.
Mr. Patra suggested that aggrieved parties should talk while keeping in mind the “sensitivity” of the issue.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said fresh attempts must be made by all parties concerned to find a solution to the Ayodhya temple dispute which is a “sensitive” and “sentimental matter.”
A Bench headed by Chief Justice J.S. Khehar said that such religious issues can be solved through negotiations and offered to mediate to arrive at an amicable settlement.
The observations came after BJP leader Subramanian Swamy mentioned the matter seeking urgent hearing of the issue.
On February 26 last year, the apex court had allowed Mr. Swamy to intervene in the pending matters relating to the Ayodhya title dispute with his plea seeking construction of Ram temple at the site of the demolished disputed structure.
The BJP leader had earlier moved the plea for a direction to allow construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya at the disputed site and had mentioned it before a Bench headed by the then Chief Justice T.S. Thakur for an urgent hearing.
He had also sought directions to expedite the disposal of several petitions challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict of three-way division of the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya on September 30, 2010.
'Consensus-based solution will ensure lasting peace'
The Congress on Tuesday came out with a guarded response on Ayodhya issue, saying there should either be a “consensus-based” solution, which will go a long way in ensuring lasting peace and goodwill, or the apex court should adjudicate the case on merit.
It also took a swipe at BJP, saying for 25 years, the issue has been used “for creating social strife for attaining electoral victories".
“If all stakeholders on both sides can arrive at a mutually acceptable consensus based solution, it will go a long way in ensuring lasting peace, goodwill, mutual respect and brotherhood. Otherwise, Supreme Court should adjudicate the issue on merits,” Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.
“For the last 25 years, this issue has been used for attaining political power and at times for creating social strife for attaining electoral victories.
“The truth, however, is that ‘dialogue’ and ‘mutual trust’ have always been the cornerstone of India’s civilisational values and our ‘Ganga-Jamuni’ culture,” the Congress leader said.
