New Delhi: Hitting out at the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind for their decision to seek a review of the Ayodhya verdict, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday said they are trying to create an “atmosphere of division and confrontation” after the matter was laid to rest by the Supreme Court.
He also said that for the Muslims, the important issue is not just “Babri (mosque) but barabri (equality)” in the areas of education and economic and social upliftment.
In an interview to PTI, Naqvi said that in a democracy everyone has the right to have an opinion and liberty to approach courts.
However, he asserted that in an ideal scenario attempts should not be made to entangle the decades-old complex issue which has been solved by a unanimous verdict of the Supreme Court.
“All sections of the society have welcomed and respected the Supreme Court verdict. But if some people are unable to digest the fact that the unity has been strengthened after this verdict, it is sad,” he said.
Sources in the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind said last week that the draft of the review petition against Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict is ready and the plea will be filed by them on December 3 or 4. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has also said the review petition will be filed before December 9.
Slamming the AIMPLB and the Jamiat, Naqvi said, “They are trying to create an atmosphere of division and confrontation which will not be accepted by any society.”
“These isolated voices cannot be that of the whole society. The feeling of all sections of the society is that this matter has been settled by the court and we should now accept it and move forward,” he said.
“If they (AIMPLB and Jamiat) were so serious why did they not agree to a compromise when the court earlier had asked them to solve the matter through dialogue,” the senior BJP leader said.
The Minority Affairs Minister said both the Muslim side and the Hindu side had said prior to the Supreme Court verdict that it would be acceptable to them.
“Even at the meeting that was held at my house where representatives from various sections of the society were present, it was said in one voice that whatever be the verdict, it will be accepted and honoured,” he said.
“Initially they (AIMPLB and Jamiat) accepted and honoured the verdict but I don’t know what is the reason and what divine enlightenment they got that they are taking an opposite stand to what they had taken,” he said.
On whether this could open a fresh chapter in the dispute, he said those who want to “open a chapter will be able to do it only in their homes” as the society and the country will not accept it and for them the matter is closed. (PTI)
