New Delhi:
Former vice chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Lt General (retd) Zameer Uddin Shah on Thursday said that Muslims must hand over the disputed land in Ayodhya to Hindus as a ‘goodwill gesture’ for construction of Ram temple to ensure communal harmony. It is to be noted that Supreme Court is likely to give its verdict on the long-pending Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case this month.
In an interactive session organised by the ‘Indian Muslims for Peace’ in Lucknow, Zameer Uddin Shah also called for out-of-court settlement of the Ayodhya dispute. Indian Muslims for Peace is an organisation of eminent Muslim citizens. While talking to media, Shah told, “It is my fervent wish that Muslims must hand over the disputed land to Hindus as a goodwill gesture. This will ensure communal harmony and peace in the country.” “I also want the Supreme Court to give a verdict in favour of the majority community to end the dispute,” Shah added.
On being asked if the Supreme Court delivers a verdict in favour of Muslims, Shah said, “Hindus have been worshipping there for a long time. Even if the court rules in favour of Muslims then also they will not be able to construct mosque there.”“The court verdict will be in favour of either party. This will lead to acrimonious relationship between the two communities,” he said adding that the Sunni Central Waqf Board also agrees with his view point.
In the meantime, a group of Muslim intellectuals also suggested out of court settlement of the vexed Ayodhya issue, stressing that it would help establish peace in the country if Muslims hand over the disputed land to the central government as a "goodwill gesture".
In a press statement, convener of ‘Indian Muslims for peace’ Kalam Khan said that a meeting of the forum held Thursday passed a resolution favouring out of court settlement of the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute. He said the group would prefer out of court settlement so that both Hindus and Muslims remain happy and no party feels aggrieved.
"Keeping in view of our secular, democratic fabric and centuries old relations with our Hindu brothers, the disputed land owned by Muslims of India may be handed over by Hon'able Supreme Court of India to Government of India as a Goodwill Gesture for attaining communal harmony and lasting peace in the Country," Kalam Khan concluded.
(With Inputs From PTI)
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