AIMPLB to file Ayodhya verdict review petition

Strap: Won’t accept alternative site for mosque

‘Punching holes in judgment’

Stressing the SC verdict was full of contradictions, AIMPLB spokesperson Qasim Rasool Illyas has listed six major reasons to file the review petition:

1. SC accepting that Muslims prayed at Babri Masjid from 1857 to 1949

2. Last namaaz on Dec 16, 1949, idols illegally placed on Dec 22-23 night

3. Idols placed illegally cannot be treated as deities

4. No proof that Ram Lalla was born under the central dome of mosque

5. Mosque demolition on Dec 6, 1992, against secular character of Constitution

6. ASI has not proved that mosque was built after razing a religious structure

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, November 17

Describing the five-judge Supreme Court Ayodhya verdict as “self-contradictory”, an emergency meeting of the All-India Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Sunday unanimously resolved to file a review petition and not accept the five acres of land at an alternative site for a mosque as directed by the judgment.

Senior AIMPLB member and convener of the All-India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC) Zafaryab Jilani pointed out that UP Sunni Central Waqf Board Chairperson Zufar Faruqi has already made it clear that the board will give weightage to the decision taken by the AIMPLB.

Responding to a question about the AIMPLB politicising the issue, Jilani said all the board was doing was exercising its constitutional right. Answering another question about the likelihood of the review petition getting the same result, Jilani pointed out the review petition in the Sabarimala case which has now been referred to a larger Bench.

Jilani said three plaintiffs – Maulana Mehfuzul Rehman, Mohammad Usman and Misahbuddin — had already agreed to file the review petition and others may join. He also clarified that senior lawyer Rajiv Dhawan would continue to represent them and the review petition would be filed within the stipulated 30 days.

Refusing to divulge the proceedings of the meeting, Jilani said of 45 of the 51 members attended the meeting and unanimously passed the resolution to go ahead with the review petition.

On the decision to refuse the five acres of land for the mosque, Jilani said under the Waqf Act it is clear that the land of a mosque can neither be exchanged nor transferred so how can it be given to anyone.

Reiterating that the long legal battle was for the title suit, Jilani pointed out that it was clearly not for building another mosque anywhere else.

Responding to a question about plaintiff Iqbal Ansari being against the review petition, Jilani said who knows he may be under pressure. Substantiating his point, he said senior officials didn’t allow them to hold the meeting at Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama and the venue was changed to Mumtaz Degree College at the last minute.