Hindu, Muslim religious leaders repose full faith in rule of law, resolve to honour SC verdict on Ayodhya

The eminent Hindu and Muslim religious leaders and intellectuals, who attended the inter-religious faith meet at National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's residence here on Sunday, have reposed their full faith in the rule of law and extended their full cooperation to the Government in ensuring peace and communal harmony in the country.

"All the participants reposed full faith in the rule of law and Constitution of India. The leaders resolved to honour the decision of the Supreme Court and appealed to all countrymen to abide by it, emphasising that the national interest overrides all other considerations. They extended their full cooperation to the government in ensuring peace, communal harmony and upholding the rule of law," said a joint press statement issued after the meeting.

Prof Akhtrul Wasey, president, Maulana Azadpur University, Jodhpur; Janab Navaid Hamid, president of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat; Maulana Saeed Ahmed Noori, president, Raza Academy, Mumbai; Maulana Mahmood Ahmed Khan Daryabandi, General Secretary, All India Ulema Council, Mumbai; and Maulana Kalbe Jawad, Shia leader, were among those who attended the meeting.

The meet was also attended by Janab Sirajuddin Qureshi, president, India Islamic Culture Centre; Janab Mujtaba Farooq, Secretary-General, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawrat; Maulana Ashgar Ali Imam Mehdi Saifi; Dr Zahir Ishaque Kazi, president, Anzuman-I-Islam, Mumbai; Syed Nasuruiddin Chisty; Mohd Engineer Salim, vice president, Jamat-e-Islami Hind and Pir Farid Ahmed Nizami, Dargah Nizamuddin Aullya.

Among the Hindu religious leaders who attended the meeting included Avdeshanand, Swami Parmatmananda, Vishwesha Teertha Peowar Swami, Swami Shruti Siddhanand, Swami Nirmalanand Natha, Swami Bodhasarananda, Swami Mitranand, Swami Perur Adheenam, Swami Chinna Ramanuja Jeeyar, Swami Chidanand, Baba Ram Dev, Swami Jananand, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswami, Alok Kumar (Vishwa Hindu Panshad), Champat Rai (Vishwa Hindu Panshad), Surinder Jain (Vishwa Hindu Panshad), Jiveshwar (Vishwa Hindu Panshad) and Swami Kamaldas.

The joint press statement said: "In the wake of Supreme Court decision on Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, eminent Hindu and Muslim religious leaders and intellectuals had an interaction with the National Security Advisor today. The interaction helped to strengthen communication between top religious leaders to maintain a spirit of amity and brotherhood amongst all communities."

"Those attending the meeting were alive to the fact that certain anti-national and hostile elements, both within and outside the country, may attempt to exploit the situation to harm our national interest. The religious leaders pledged their unstinted support to the Government in all the measures it may take, to maintain peace and order, in the society," it added.

As per the statement, the religious leaders noted with satisfaction that millions of Indians, belonging to both the communities, displayed a great sense of responsibility, sensitivity, and restraint in accepting the Court verdict.

"All the participants appreciated the initiative and emphasised the need for a continuous dialogue between various communities in the future. They complimented the government for ensuring safety and security of every individual," added the statement.

The Supreme Court on Saturday directed the Central government to hand over the disputed site at Ayodhya for the construction of a temple and set up a trust for this.

The apex court further directed the government to give a suitable plot of land measuring five acres to the Sunni Waqf Board.