Indian Muslims censure govt over Babri Mosque

By: Irfan Malik

NEW DELHI, India: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has severely condemned on Saturday the country’s Premier A B Vajpayee and his deputy L K Advani for avowing the construction of a Hindu temple at the site of Babri mosque in Ayodhya that was demolished in 1990s by hardline Hindus.

Qasim Rasoul Elyas, a spokesman for the AIMPLB said: “They are betraying their desperation by raking up the Ayodhya dispute to try and sway voters, with no achievement to show for their five years in power.”

During a visit to Ayodhya to attend the funeral of the pre-eminent temple campaigner Ram Chandra Das Paramhans, Vajpayee said: “I have the belief that all hurdles will be removed and path for construction of the temple would be fortified.”

While Advani, on the same visit, promised that a temple would be built at the site of the razed 16th century mosque terming it a “national wish.”

“We are open to negotiations but any formula should be in accordance with our Shariah laws that forbid giving up our religious property. If we had to relinquish our claim to the site then why did we struggle for 50 years?” Elyas said.

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