Litigants welcome SC decision on mediation in Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case

Various litigants unanimously welcomed the mediation ordered by Supreme Court to resolve the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case.

AIMPLB member and convener of Babri Masjid Action Committee Zafaryab Jilani said, "We have already said that we will cooperate in the mediation. Now, whatever we have to say, we will say to the mediation panel, not outside."

Syed Sahkeel, Counsel for Sunni Waqf Board, praised the court decision terming it a good move.

"Of course, we are with the mediation order. We have said that we will agree (with the decision) and whatever we have to say, we will appear before mediators and put our submissions," he said talking to reporters outside the Supreme Court.

Retired top court judge F M Kallifullah will chair the mediation panel that also includes Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate of the Madras High Court Sriram Panchu.

When asked about about the panel Sahkeel said, " If we have to say something. We will say it when we appear there (before the mediators). Supreme Court has directed not to say anything in public."

Iqbal Ansari, the sole Muslim litigant in the matter, "Court has asked for mediation and we will try. If other stakeholders are ready, we will talk. The court's decision has increased our hopes. We have full faith in law, the Constitution and judges."

Swami Chakrpani of Hindu Mahasabha also greeted the Supreme Court decision. "We appreciate the three names suggested by the Court. We hope they will be like Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. This is a big problem for our nation. We hope it will become a symbol for Hindu-Muslim unity and will ensure the construction of Ram Temple."

He also blamed political interference as the main reason behind failure of previous attempts at mediation.

'We tried for this earlier too but we could not resolve it because of political interference. Now, the solution to this problem will certainly be found. Curtains will be down on those who deliberately tried to make it into a political problem," he said.

"We appeal to all stakeholders to think positively," he added.

Mahant Dharam Das, another litigant expressed his happiness over the decision. "I am happy that the Supreme Court wants a decision on this soon. We have no objection over that," he said.

Dharam Das cautioned people not to look at mediators through 'Hindu-Muslim' lens.

"Those who are seeing the judge through Hindu-Muslim angle are violating the law. We welcome the panel (of mediators) that has been constituted," Dharam Das told ANI.

"We will not run away from the mediation. We will talk with whosoever comes. Temple will be constructed through mediation. Whatever the court wants to do, it should do that quickly. The problem is on the verge of being solved," he added.

A Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Friday referred the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for court-appointed and monitored mediation while imposing a media ban on its coverage.

Retired top court judge F M Kallifullah will be the chairman of the panel, a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said.

The panel will also include Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu, it said.