Expressing satisfaction over the Supreme Court’s interim order staying the Allahabad high court direction for tripartite division of the disputed land in Ayodhya, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is also representing one of the parties in the case said, “There will be no change of situation at ground zero (the make-shift temple of
Ram Lalla). The puja will continue as per the January 7, 1993 order.” Mr Prasad is representing Ram Lalla Virajman. The Congress, however, refrained from commenting on the top court’s order.
“It is in our tradition that we do not comment on issues while they are pending in the court,” party spokesperson Manish Tewari. The RSS also said that it was “happy” with the order which was in “accordance with the pleas of the Ram temple movement.”
“We are happy that the plea of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement against the trifurcation of the Ayodhya site has been upheld by the apex court,” RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav said.
Welcoming the order, the CPI(M) said it had criticised the Allahabad high court judgment for using the issue of religious belief as a ground to give its order.
“We had questioned that (high court verdict) and said that it was a very very dangerous precedent. The Supreme Court has stayed part of that order and we hope the Supreme Court will look into various related issues and rectify it,” CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat said.
The counsel for other parties in the case, including Hindu Maha Sabha and Sunni Waqf Board, also expressed satisfaction over the top court’s interim order saying that none of the parties had sought division of the 2.77 acre land.
Sunni Waqf Board counsel Zafaryab Jilani said, “We are satisfied with today’s order of the Supreme Court... This will help in maintaining peaceful position in the country.” He added saying that “Everybody had claimed for exclusive rights, so Supreme Court is completely justified in staying the high court judgment. Sunni Waqf board will ask the court to expedite its hearing in the case.” Expressing satisfaction over the top court order, counsel representing Hindu Maha Sabha said, “Nobody prayed for it (partition of land into three parts). Everybody wanted full land. Our stand continues that entire Janmabhoomi premises belongs to the Hindu Maha Sabha.”