From News Dispaches
NEW DELHI: The government does not want an early settlement of the Ram Janambhumi Babri Mosque controversy, according to the columnist Kuldeep Nayar.
In a recent report he said the government didn’t want to settle the controversy before the elections since the verdict would alienate either the Hindus or the Muslims electorate against the Congress I.
Uttar Pradesh alone has 85 Lok Sabha constituencies and the Congress I assessment is that the verdict will influence public opinion in other states also.
The Congress I also expects a large of its followers to say that the Ram Janambhumi is not a matter to be decided by the court and that it should be handled over to the Hindus. number The controversy arose when the disputed building was ordered to be opened and an idol was placed in it. The Hindus claim the place to be the birthplace of Lord Rama, the Muslims claim it
to be a mosque built by Emperon Babar.
The general Hindu opinion is that the place should be converted into a temple.
B.J.P. leader, Atal Bihari Bajpai had offered to the Muslim’s that his party would persuade the Hindu organizations to give up their claims on other mosques provided they gave up their claim to the Babri Mosque.
This offer is not acceptable to the Muslims.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 12, 1989
