No out-of-court settlement in Babri case: Muslim body

Syed Ali Ahmed

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 3

The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), a prominent Muslim organisation, today rejected any possibility of an out-of-court settlement of the Babri Masjid dispute.

At JIH’s monthly press meet here today, its president Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari said: “As the Babri Masjid demolition completes 24 years, we resolve to continue the peaceful struggle for restoration and reconstruction of the masjid in cooperation with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), human rights organisations and justice-loving people of all religions. We rule out any possibility for an out-of-court settlement towards resolution of the Babri Masjid case.”

Umari said December 6, 1992, was one of the darkest days in the history of India. “Unfortunately, the perpetrators of the demolition are still walking free and successive governments have not arrested anyone. 

The Liberhan Commission presented its report in June 2009 after 17 years but no practical steps were taken thereafter. The case is pending before the Supreme Court and we are hopeful of a verdict in its favour,” he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind secretary general Muhammad Salim Engineer expressed skepticism over the government’s claim to curb the circulation of black money by demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. “We are not convinced by the government’s claim that the scheme will curb black money. If black money was to be curbed, why the government has introduced notes of Rs 2,000?” he said.