5-acre land must be allotted in acquired 67-acre area in Ayodhya: Muslim leaders, litigant Iqbal Ansari

The five acres of land to be allocated for building a mosque under the Supreme Court verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute should be within the 67 acres of acquired land in Ayodhya, Iqbal Ansari, a main litigant in the case, has demanded along with several other local Muslim leaders.

The central government had acquired the land including the disputed site in 1991.

"If they want to give us the land, they must give us according to our convenience and only in that acquired land of 67 acres. Then we will take it. Otherwise we will reject the offer, as people are saying 'Go out of Chaudah Kos and construct Masjid there'. This is not fair," Ansari said.

Maulana Jalal Ashraf , a local cleric, said Muslims can buy land on their own to build a mosque are not dependent on the government for it.

"If the court or the government wants to pacify our sentiments to some extent , the five acre land must be given to in the acquired area as many graveyards and Dargaah including that of 18th century Sufi saint Qazi Qudwah are in that area," he said.

Khaliq Ahmad Khan, General Secretary of All India Milli Council, expressed similar views.

Haji Mahboob , who was also a litigant from Muslim side, said, "We will not accept this lollypop. They must make clear that where they want to give us the land."
An official, on the condition of anonymity, said, "We have been asked to find the land for mosque at prominent and attractive place."