Ayodhya verdict: Cong seeks reconciliation, BJP says let temple be built

New Delhi: As the country absorbs the historic Ayodhya verdict, the Congress and the BJP have called for reconciliation, with the BJP also saying help build a temple.

Speaking to NDTV's Group Editor Barkha Dutt, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said bringing the two sides in the dispute together is the need of the hour; while the BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad, who has also represented one of the parties in the Ayodhya case, said a mature response would be to let the Hindus build a temple at the Ram Janambhoomi site.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Thursday pronounced judgment in the Ayodhya title suit, saying Hindus and Muslims are joint title holders. (Read: Ayodhya verdict - Land to be divided 3 ways, says Allahabad High Court)

The three-judge bench - comprising Justice S U Khan, Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice D V Sharma - ruled in a majority judgment 2:1, that there be a three-way division of the disputed land - one-third for the Sunni Waqf Board, one-third for the Nirmohi Akhara and one-third to the party for 'Ram Lalla'. Each of the three judges gave a summary of his own. (Read judgement)

Here is what Digvijaya Singh and Ravi Shankar Prasad said to NDTV after the verdict:

Barkha - When the BJP uses the judgement to say that now it must pave the way for a grand mandir, how should we read that? One way of saying it is - so be it, mandir masjid dono wahi baniye, that's what the country wants and needs and wants to move on. Another way of looking at it is, as several of our panelists have said, it's injustice for what happened on December 6 1992.

Digvijaya Singh: If a temple is to be constructed then a mosque has to be constructed too. But what I feel is, let us not create a situation which may escalate and whip up communal passions. What is more important is for this country to bring about the two factions together and I think the congress party and the UPA government would be very happy to bring about some kind of reconciliation which is the need of the hour and that is the public mood of the country. (Watch)

Barkha: This case is going to the Supreme Court. It could sit there for decades. Do you believe we should allow the legal process to complete itself or do you believe your party or your government, may be, could show political initiative and bring together all of the groups for a negotiated settlement which takes a cue from this judgement and builds both a temple and mosque at this site.

Digvijaya Singh: Well the legal process cannot be stopped. It is the right of the contesting parties to go and appeal, either of them. But that does not stop us and for all other parties and all other contesting parties to initiate the proceedings of reconciliation.

Barkha: What is the big message that you take away from this verdict?

Ravi Shankar Prasad: Ram was pious, revered figure of the Hindus. The Muslims never questioned. Ayodhya is sacred for Hindus, they never questioned. What they questioned was that this is not the place where the Hindus believe he was born. Issue 14, 22, 92 has been clearly decided by a majority that is the place where Ram was born, which Hindus believe for thousands of years. This, a concept of a deity, exclusive to Hindus, that I argued that was accepted. Now you may recall in the white paper of the Narsimha Rao government and the Farooqui judgment also that they had said that if it is proved that this is the place of birth of Lard Ram, we will willingly forgo our claim. And today when there is a judicial determination, what I said in Lucknow immediately thereafter - I'm appealing through your channel, you are saying India has moved and I am appealing to the new India - Please accept this verdict with all humility. You have got the right to appeal, but if you help the Hindus willingly construct a temple at the Janmsthan, it will pave the way for a new resurgent India." (Watch)