Ayodhya verdict: PM says not anybody's win or loss, AIMPLB may seek review

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asserted that the Supreme Court's Ayodhya case verdict should not be seen as win or loss for anyone as the judgement evoked mixed reactions with the BJP, its allies as well as the Congress hailing the ruling and the Muslim side led by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) saying it was contemplating seeking a review.

Reactions poured in from all quarters on the unanimous decision of the top court that paved the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, and also directed the Centre to allot an alternative 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a new mosque at a "prominent" place in the holy town in Uttar Pradesh.

Muslim leadership expressed their dissatisfaction with the verdict but said they will accept it, and called for peace and calm.

"Be it Ram Bhakti or Rahim Bhakti (devotion to Ram or Rahim), it is imperative that we strengthen the spirit of rashtra bhakti (devotion to the country)," he said, adding "the verdict shouldn't be seen as a win or loss for anybody." Modi said, and appealed to countrymen for peace, unity and amity.

Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed the judgement saying the order will prove to be a milestone and further strengthen India's unity and integrity.

In a series of tweets, Shah appealed to all communities and religions to accept the decision of the apex court with ease and remain committed to 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat' (one India, great India).

Asserting that the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya issue highlighted "truth and justice", RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also echoed the Prime Minister's view that it should not be seen as anybody's victory or defeat.

Welcoming the ruling, Bhagwat said everybody should now forget the dispute, which had continued for many decades, and work together to build a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

BJP working president Jagat Prakash Nadda said his party has always been committed to the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and it played a "sincere and positive" role on the issue.

Several Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Prakash Javadekar and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also hailed the verdict.

"The Judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court on Ayodhya is historic. The Judgement will further strengthen India's social fabric. I urge everyone to take the verdict with equanimity and magnanimity. I also appeal to the people to maintain peace & harmony after this landmark verdict," Rajnath tweeted.

The Congress said it respects the Supreme Court verdict is in favour of Ram temple construction.

In a resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee chaired by party chief Sonia Gandhi, the party also appealed to all parties concerned and all communities to "abide by the secular values and spirit of fraternity enshrined in the Constitution and to maintain peace and harmony".

Addressing a press conference AIMPLB Secretary Zafaryab Jilani said, "We are dissatisfied with certain findings of the Supreme Court.... We respect the Supreme Court verdict and respectfully disagree with certain aspects of it."
The CPI(M) in a statement said that while the judgment has provided a judicial resolution to this fractious issue there are certain premises of the judgment which are "questionable."
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi in a press conference in Hyderabad said the Supreme court verdict on the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi land dispute was a "victory of belief over facts."
The Hyderabad MP also said he was not satisified with the ruling and quoted a former Chief Justice of India to say the top court is "indeed supreme but not infallible."