Ayodhya: The road ahead

Dubai: Now that the Supreme Court has settled the Ayodhya issue, the real challenge is the execution of the verdict by the governments in New Delhi and in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The Sunni Waqf Board, the main Muslim petitioner, told Gulf News that it will abide by the verdict. Therefore, a legal challenge is unlikely.

The first delicate task before the Central Government is to bring warring Hindu factions together and set up a board of trustees for the construction of a Ram temple. The Supreme Court has directed that Hindu sect Nirmohi Akhara, a main petitioner, be included in the trust along with other parties. This will involve a tight rope walk as many Hindu factions, social and political groups were involved in the Ram temple movement. While setting up the board, the government will have to decide: Who will be included in the board? Who will build and manage the day to day affairs of the temple? What will happen to the acquired land?

There are no simple answers to these questions given the history of Ram temple movement.

Secondly, the governments in Lucknow and New Delhi will have to find five acres of land at a prominent site in Ayodhya where a mosque will be built by Muslims. Ayodhya district includes the twin cities of Faizabad and Ayodhya. The court ordered that the land for Muslims can come from the acquired land surrounding the disputed site. Again, these are complex issues that will test the resolve of the government in execution of the court order. It is likely that the government may seek further clarification from the Supreme Court in the coming days. However, in the case of Muslims, the issue of ownership of the mosque is simple — it will be built and managed by Sunni Waqf Board.

The Ayodhya issue will keep Modi government busy at a time when the economy is not performing well. It will have to proceed with caution so that the spirit of the Supreme Court verdict is not violated.