New Delhi, Feb 9: In a first, All India Muslim Personal Law Board Member Maulana Salman Nadvi on Friday supported the construction of Ram Mandir at the disputed site in Ayodhya. He added that the mosque can be built on an alternative land near the disputed site. After holding talks with spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Nadvi said that he would also support the construction of a university at the site.
“The temple already exists at the disputed site. Land should be offered at some other place where a mosque and a university could be constructed,” India TV quoted Maulana Nadvi as saying. Nadvi added that Islam has provisions for shifting a religious place like a mosque. He emphasised that the final decision will be taken by the Muslim board.
“When the court decides, somebody wins, somebody loses, we want a win-win solution for all. I have been continuously meeting Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. He is taking steps with honesty to resolve the matter and we also want a peaceful solution,” added Nadvi.
AIMPLB distances itself from Nadvi
The Muslim Personal Law Board, distancing itself from Nadvi’s statement, said that it is his personal opinion and does not reflect the stand of the board. “It’s his personal opinion and the Muslim board rejects it. There can’t be any compromise on the mosque,” added another member Kamaal Farooqui.
Will treat the case as “pure land dispute”
Commenting on the matter, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had said the Supreme Court will treat the matter as “pure land dispute”. The court siad the politically sensitive Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid case was purely a “land dispute” and will be dealt with in normal course.
A special bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra was hearing the civil appeals, arising out of 2010 verdict of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, which in a 2:1 majority ruling, had ordered that the disputed land be partitioned equally among three parties — the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.