Mayawati lauds media for Ayodhya verdict coverage

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today lauded the media for exercising restraint in the coverage of the Ayodhya title suit verdict pronounced by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court yesterday.

The Bahujan Samaj Party president noted that the media had acted in a non-partisan manner for giving balanced news coverage about the verdict.

The media played a major role in maintaining law and order situation and fostering peaceful atmosphere across the state, she said addressing a conference call here.

Besides, she renewed her appeal to people to maintain peace and keep mischief mongers at bay, even as she issued stern warning against elements planning to foment trouble.

She further assured the people, especially Muslims, that the state government would provide full security to secure their lives and property.

Mayawati maintained it was the sole responsibility of the Centre to implement the HC order. “After the HC verdict, if any incident takes places that vitiates the law and order situation, the Centre would be responsible for it,” she said.

She referred to the media reports saying the HC verdict was not final and the plaintiff had reportedly talked of moving the Supreme Court to challenge it.

Yesterday, a HC division bench comprising Justices Dharam Veer Sharma, S U Khan and Sudhir Agarwal had by a majority decision ruled that the disputed site be trifurcated.

Observing the disputed site was the birth place of Lord Ram, the bench observed the Hindus, Nirmohi Aakhara and Sunni Central Waqf Board be given 1/3rd of land each.

The HC had said status quo be maintained at the disputed site for the next three months, while allowing the parties to appeal in the SC.