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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation after the Supreme Court earlier in the day delivered the Ayodhya verdict, in New Delhi, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019.[/caption]
New Delhi, Nov. 9 (PTI): The Supreme Court judgment on the Ayodhya issue has heralded a "new dawn" and should not be seen as win or loss for anybody, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, stressing that India's credo of unity in diversity was visible in its totality as all sections of society accepted the verdict with an open heart.
Addressing the nation after the verdict in the politically and communally sensitive case was pronounced, Modi invoked the fall of Berlin wall on November 9, 1989 as he urged people to shun any fear, bitterness and negativity and come together to build a new India.
Modi also referred to the inauguration of the Kartarpur corridor, noting that both India and Pakistan played a role in the development ,and stated that the lesson of the day is that we should be together to surge ahead.
" ... And now, with today's verdict on Ayodhya, this date -- November 9 teaches us the power of staying united and growing together. Today is about the message of integration and emerging victorious together," he said, while referring to how the Berlin Wall was brought down bringing two contrasting ideologies together.
Hailing the Supreme Court for delivering verdict on an important issue "which has a history of hundreds of years", he pointed out that the entire country wanted the court to hear the matter daily and it happened.
"For the Indian judiciary, it is a golden day. The Supreme Court heard everyone with patience and delivered a unanimous verdict," Modi said in his 11-minute-long address.
He said the judges, the courts and the judicial processes should be greeted for their strong will.
Referring to the dispute, the prime minister said the judgment has heralded a "new dawn" for the people. "The dispute may have affected several generations, but after the judgment we have to take a pledge that the new generation will work for the creation of a new India with a fresh spirit," he said.
It is globally acknowledged that India is the world's largest democracy.
"Today, the world has also realised how vibrant and strong our democracy is. After today's verdict the manner in which every section of society, every community, every religion, the entire nation across the verdict with open arms. This is a manifestation of India's ages old ethos, culture, traditions as well as our inherent spirit of brotherhood," the prime minister said.
He said peace, unity and amity are essential for development of India and described November 9 as a day to forget any bitterness one may have.
Settling a fractious issue that goes back more than a century, the Supreme Court in a historic verdict on Saturday backed the construction of a Ram temple by a trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya, and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in the Hindu holy town.
Earlier in the day, the prime minister took to Twitter to assert that the judgment should not be seen as win or loss for anybody, and appealed to countrymen to maintain peace and harmony.
In a series of tweets in Hindi and English, Modi also asserted that the judgment clearly illustrates that everybody is equal before the law.
"Be it Ram Bhakti or Rahim Bhakti (devotion to Ram or Rahim), it is imperative that we strengthen the spirit of rashtra bhakti (devotion to the country)," he said.
Noting that the temple of justice (the apex court) has amicably concluded a matter going on for decades, he said the SC verdict will further strengthen people's faith in the judicial system.
"The calm and peace maintained by 130 crore Indians in the run-up to today's verdict manifests India's inherent commitment to peaceful coexistence. May this very spirit of unity and togetherness power the development trajectory of our nation. May every Indian be empowered," he said.
Every side, every point of view was given adequate time and opportunity to express differing points of view, he said.
"The judgment is notable as it highlights that any dispute can be amicably solved in the spirit of due process of law. It (the verdict) reaffirms the independence, transparency and farsightedness of our judiciary. May peace and harmony prevail," he tweeted.
Modi on Friday had also appealed to the people that the priority should be to strengthen India's tradition of maintaining peace and harmony after the verdict is pronounced on Saturday.
Lawyers for Hindu parties on Saturday said the Supreme Court judgment granting the entire 2.77 acre of disputed land in Ayodhya to deity Ram Lalla has reaffirmed their faith while the Muslim parties voiced dissatisfaction, saying there were lot of contradictions in the verdict.
The apex court on Saturday cleared the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya, and directed the Centre to allot a 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who had represented the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government in the title dispute, welcomed the verdict.
"It is a historical verdict in more than one ways. All five Judges deserve unequivocal commendation for having adjudicated a dispute which was the oldest legal dispute of the present century.
"The judgment, considering the peculiar facts of case, being unanimous demonstrates judicial statesmanship and reflects a rare combination of intellectual maturity," the law officer told PTI.
He said the country's highest court, living by its "own glorious past", has balanced justice on both sides strictly according to law after painstakingly analysing the intricacies of law involved and checkered facts dating back to several centuries.
Senior advocate P S Narasimha, who had appeared for deity Ram Lalla Virajman in the title dispute, said they are grateful to the court for respecting their religion.
"The faith of Hindus has been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court verdict. We had faith before the mosque. We had faith during the mosque and we had faith after the demolition of the mosque and there was continuous worship by the Hindus," said Narsimha.
"We are grateful to the institution of judiciary for the extraordinary measures for restituting the historical belief. We are grateful to the court which has shown great respect to our religion and belief which brings amity and affection in the society," he added.
Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board's Zafaryab Jilani expressed his dissatisfaction over the verdict.
He said there were lot of contradictions in the judgement.
"The Ayodhya verdict holds no value for us. We are dissatisfied with the verdict. It has lot of contradictions," senior advocate Jilani said.
The Ayodhya mediation settlement, which was agreed by some of the parties to amicably resolve the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute, cannot be treated as binding as it was conditional on certain stipulations being fulfilled, the Supreme Court said on Saturday.
A five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, however, appreciated the mediation panel for its earnest efforts in bringing together the disputants on a common platform for a free and frank dialogue.
The apex court had appointed a mediation panel comprising its former judge Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu to explore the possibility of bringing about a permanent solution to the issues raised in the appeals.
On October 16, when final arguments were concluded in the appeal, the panel filed its report in the court titled 'Final Report of the Committee' stating that a settlement had been arrived at by some of the parties to the present dispute.
Though under the settlement, the Sunni Central Waqf Board had agreed to relinquish all its rights, interests and claims over the disputed land, this was subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions stipulated.
"The settlement agreement received by this court from the mediation panel has not been agreed to or signed by all the parties to the present dispute. Moreover, it is only conditional on certain stipulations being fulfilled. Hence, the settlement cannot be treated to be a binding or concluded agreement between the parties to the dispute," the bench, also comprising justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer, said in its 1,045-page judgement.
"We, however, record our appreciation of the earnest efforts made by the members of the mediation panel in embarking on the task entrusted by this Court. In bringing together the disputants on a common platform for a free and frank dialogue, the mediators have performed a function which needs to be commended. We also express our appreciation of the parties who earnestly made an effort to pursue the mediation proceedings," the bench said.
The court had on February 26, referred the parties to the court-appointed mediation and on March 8, the panel of mediators was constituted.
Time granted to the mediators to complete the mediation proceedings was extended on May 10. Since no settlement had been reached, the court had directed to commence from August 6, hearing on the appeals.
During the course of hearing, a report was submitted by the panel of mediators that some of the parties desired to settle the dispute.
The court had on September 18, observed that while the hearings will proceed, if any parties desired to settle the dispute, it was open for them to move the mediators and place a settlement, if it was arrived at, before the court.