It's a serious responsibility, I will do my best: Panchu on Ayodhya panel appointment

In a brief statement on being chosen as part of the three-member mediation committee  for settling the Ayodhya-Babri Masjid land dispute, Panchi said: “It is a very serious responsibility given to me by the Honourable Supreme Court and I will do my best.”

A five-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi said there would a panel of three mediators.

The panel of mediators will be headed by Justice (retired) F.M. Ibrahim Kalifullah and would consist of spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu.

The top court also said that the mediation would be held in Faizabad and the mediators could start their work within a week.

The mediators could also co-opt for more persons, if required in the process, it observed.

What happened in Ayodhya and why the case is significant:

In 1992, the disputed Babri Masjid structure was brought down by several right-wing volunteers who believed Lord Ram was born on that site.

On Sept 27, the apex court had refused to re-visit its 1994 verdict which had stated mosque was not important for Muslims to offer prayers, paving way for the hearing of the Ayodhya case.

The verdict, if passed prior to 2019 General Elections, will be a boost for the BJP, whose political commitment was building the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Hindu groups oppose mediation:

The Hindu groups are opposing a solution through mediation as it won't be accepted by the majority of the community.

Excepting Sunni Waqf Board and Nirmohi Akhara, which was one of the petitioners, all are opposed to the idea of mediation to solve the dispute.

Ravi Shankar welcomes verdict:

Following the Supreme Court's order to mediate, Ravi Shankar tweeted, "This move towards mediation by the Hon Supreme Court is in the best interest of the country and all parties concerned. We should not leave any stone unturned in resolving this burning issue amicably."

In a follow up tweet, he said: "We should keep our egos and differences aside and come together with a spirit of honouring & accommodating the sentiments of the communities concerned."

Right-wing wants ordinance but Modi wants to wait for verdict:

Though several right-wing organisations had demanded an ordinance be passed by the central government to construct Ram temple in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he will wait for the verdict to come.

Citing the government took action over triple talaq only after the top court verdict, Modi, in an interview with ANI, had said: "I urge Congress people to allow the court proceedings to take place over the Ram temple case in the Supreme court. After the verdict comes, the government will initiate its action."

Political reactions:

Opposing Ravi Shankar's presence in the mediation panel, AIMIM president and Lok Sabha MP, Asaduddin Owaisi, said the spiritual leader made controversial statements on the case earlier so an neutral person in his place would have been better.

Welcoming the verdict, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati, who is also a former Uttar Pradesh Chief MInister, tweeted: "Hon'ble Supreme Court's order to constitute in-camera mediation (in Faizabad) in order to resolve the Ayodhya matter seems an honest effort. Hon'ble Court looking for "a possibility of healing relationships" is an appreciable move. BSP welcomes it."

IMAGE: Wikimedia Commons