VHP rejects reports of ‘settlement’ of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 18

After Muslim parties, RSS affiliate Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also rejected reports of purported “settlement” by the Supreme Court-appointed mediation panel to resolve the Ayodhya land dispute.

It has termed it an attempt to create “mischief and cause confusion” at the fag-end of the hearing of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

“The VHP is of the considered view that it would be in the interest of the country and all concerned parties to await the judgment of the Supreme Court,” a key member of the Sangh parivaar said.

“The VHP and the other Hindu litigants have sincerely participated in several attempts earlier held for an amicable settlement. They were not successful.

“The Supreme Court has finally heard the matter and the hearings continued for 40 working days and more than 200 hours. Reviving the mediation bogey at the fag-end of the hearing appears to be a mischief and an effort to cause confusion,” VHP working president Alok Kumar said.

“We have seen some press reports about a settlement on Ram Janmabhoomi issue by the Sunni Wakf Board. The VHP wishes to make it clear that the Hindu side in appeals have not been approached for and has not participated in any mediation effort after the hearing of appeals commenced in the Supreme Court.

“We have not even been intimated of any proposal for settlement,” he added.

As per Kumar, the VHP in an application in the first week of July had requested the Supreme Court to declare mediation as concluded and to fix a date for final hearing.

“This was also subsequently mentioned before the CJI. The Supreme Court had declared that the mediation had failed on August 2.

“However, on September 18, on mentioning by the other side the Supreme Court permitted that if any party is desirous of a settlement it may approach the mediation panel. The Hindu side had specifically conveyed to the mediators that we were not interested in mediation any further,” he said.

Muslim parties, except the Sunni Waqf Board, today made it clear that they do not accept the Supreme Court-appointed mediation panel’s proposal on purported settlement to resolve the Ayodhya land dispute.

Attacking the Supreme Court-appointed mediation panel for “leaking” the details of its proceedings to the media, advocates for Muslim parties said: “The leak to the press may have been inspired by either mediation committee directly or those who participated in the said mediation proceedings or participants. (It needs emphasis that such a leak was in total violation of the orders of the Supreme Court that had directed that such proceedings should remain confidential”.

In a statement issued to the media they also expressed shock over reports that the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Wakf Board was withdrawing from the case and that it was ready to relinquish its rights over the disputed land at Ayodhya.