The Hindu : Muslim Law Board in a tight spot

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 06, 2003

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Muslim Law Board in a tight spot

By J.P. Shukla

LUCKNOW July 5. The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, which is scheduled to discuss here tomorrow the proposals of the Sankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Sri Jayendra Saraswati, to resolve the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya is in a tight spot with some members in the Babri Masjid Action Committee warning the Board not to bargain over the original site of the Masjid.

An informal meeting of the Board today decided to take the safest route and examine every element of the Acharya's proposals strictly according to the rulings of the Shariat before giving its reactions.

Today's meeting, which was attended by about 15 members, including the Chairman, Rabe Hasni Nadvi, the Vice-Chairman, Kalbe Sadiq, Syed Nizamuddin, Maulana Sajjad Nomani and Maulana Qasim Rasool Iliyas discussed how it should go ahead. The first reaction is that the Acharya has sent his proposals with positive intentions and that the Board would have an "open mind" while giving its reactions.

The Babri Masjid Action Committee convener, Jafaryab Jilani, said the community could not allow any bargaining over the original site of the mosque. He reminded the Board of its own stand which was conveyed to the Muslim community on December 3, 1990 that a mosque was the House of God and thus the site could not be shifted nor could it be subjected to any sale or purchase.

No one had the authority to bargain over the House of God, Mr. Jilani said.

When the point was raised before the Board spokesman, Maulana Sajjad Nomani, he referred to other Shariat rulings, according to which no mosque could be constructed on a piece of land which is forcibly acquired, giving the impression that the point could be discussed by the Board while considering the Acharya's proposals.

Several Muslim organisations have since challenged the Board's right to enter into negotiations on behalf of the entire community. One group has even threatened to constitute a parallel Board to oversee matters relating to Muslim personal law.

The Hindu "sants'' of Ayodhya, mainly those associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, have threatened that they would never allow the reconstruction of a mosque within the limits of Ayodhya.

`Wait for court ruling'

PTI reports from Lucknow:

A senior member of the Muslim Board and president of the All-India Union Muslim League, G.M. Banatwala, rejected the Acharya's formula and favoured waiting for a court ruling.

``As is well known, Muslims cannot give up their claim over the land belonging to a mosque or the Waqf Board and negotiations for this matter would not yield any result.

The formula presented by the Kanchi seer for resolving the dispute would only expose him,'' Mr. Banatwala told reporters here.

Terming the Acharya's formula as a ``mere election stunt'', he alleged that it was aimed at consolidating Hindu votes with an eye on next year's general elections.

``A court verdict is the only option to resolve the dispute and like a civilised country, we should wait for it''.

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