The president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Asaduddin Owaisi, has warned Muslims from talking to anyone on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute in order to find an out-of-court solution.
The dispute centres around a plot in the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) where the mosque is located. However, the site is also regarded as the birthplace of Hindu deity Rama. Demolition of the Babri mosque by a Hindu mob had triggered some of India’s worst riots, killing almost 2,000 people in 1992.
The warning from Owaisi, a Muslim member of Indian parliament from Hyderabad state, came during his addresses to a gathering in Sambhal, UP where he asked Muslims not to give even a single inch of the disputed land in Ayodhya to Hindus for the construction of Ram Mandir, according to India TV.
Criticising the Shia Central Waqt Board for issuing a draft proposal on the resolution of the long-standing dispute, the three-time member of the lower house of the Indian parliament said “whoever is taking initiative to hold talk with Hindus have forgotten the history,” adding the Indian Muslims were not afraid of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Citing the historic sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the Indian lawmaker reminded Muslims that grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) never compromised on the Islamic principles with the cruel people. “He [Hussain (RA)] kept fighting… therefore we also will not compromise with anyone,” Owaisi said.
“People are telling us not to construct masjid here, instead we should construct our masjid there. Those who are preaching us on the matter should first look within, what will you tell Allah on the day of judgment… that we compromised?” the MP asked.
“What will you say ‘you surrendered before the cruel people of this world?’ Are we so weak that we have to compromise on everything? Whether we succeed or not, but we will not sale our heart,” he said.
Last week, Indian spiritual leader Ravi Shankar visited Ayodhya and met all stakeholders in a bid to bring everyone on the same platform. The country’s top court had earlier said the issue should be amicably resolved through a negotiated settlement. The Supreme Court will hear the case on December 5, a day before the 25th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition.
