New Delhi, Oct 1: Satisfied over the “respectful and dignified” response of people to the Ayodhya verdict, Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram on Friday said the Centre had no role in the issue except to maintain status quo and ensure law and order across the country.
 Addressing a press conference he said it was a fair assumption that the verdict of the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court on the dispute would go to Supreme Court which may pass an interim order and take it up for hearing.
 “There is no role for the Centre now. The judges have given a stay and ordered a status quo (on the situation as obtaining) before the verdict. The judgment is not operational as of now. The judgment is indeed an important document. But it is not operational.
 It is a fair assumption that appeals may be lodged (in Supreme Court). It is a fair assumption that the Supreme Court will pass interim orders. Therefore, there is no need now to comment on the judgment which is not operational and status quo as decreed in a Supreme Court order in 1994 will be maintained,” he said.
 To a question whether the judgment dilutes the case relating to the demolition of Babri Masjid, he said this judgment has nothing to do with the act took place December 6, 1992.
 “That act was completely unacceptable and it was an act done by people who took law and order into their hands. That remains, in my view, a criminal act. Also, please don’t attribute to the judges (of the Lucknow Bench) any attempt to justify what was done in 1992,” he said.
 On the law and order situation, he said the country has been extremely peaceful and there have been no incidents reported from anywhere.

MUSLIMS FEEL CHEATED: MULAYAM
 Samajwadi Party supreme, Mulayam Singh Yadav has said the Muslim community felt cheated by the Ayodhya title suit verdict, prompting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to warn of strict action against any attempt to vitiate the communal atmosphere.
 “I am disappointed at the judicial verdicts that give precedence to faith over law and evidence. This does not augur good for the country, the Constitution and the Judiciary itself,” Yadav said reading out from a written statement.
 He said the judgment of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court would create problems in the future. “Besides, the Muslims in the country are feeling cheated by the verdict and there is a sense of despair in the entire community,” Yadav said.

Summary of findings of the 3 judges

Justice Sudhir Agarwal
 Area covered under central dome of disputed structure is birthplace of Lord Ram as per the faith and belief of Hindus.
 Disputed structure was always treated, considered and believed to be a mosque and the Muslims worshipped there.
 Disputed structure was constructed after demolition of a Hindu temple.

Justice SU Khan
 Mosque was not built by destroying any existing temple. Instead it was built over ruins of a temple that existed much earlier.
 Evidence of both Hindus and Muslims worshipping in the complex before 1850.

Justice DV Sharma
 Disputed site is Lord Ram’s birthplace and this is a juristic person and deity
 Idols present in middle dome of disputed structure had been placed there on the night of December 22, 1949
 However, site has been worshipped as birthplace of Ram since time immemorial by Hindus.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 1 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 1 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 2 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST