Congress steering panel to discuss post-verdict scene

The Congress working committee, which was converted into a steering committee after Sonia Gandhi's re-election as party president for a fourth term, will have its first meeting on Tuesday. The committee will take stock of the political situation in the aftermath of the Ayodhya judgment.

What political stand Congress will take after the meeting became clear on Monday when party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan accused BJP of indulging in "traditional doublespeak".

"Earlier, [BJP leader] LK Advani would harp that this is a matter of faith that cannot be adjudicated by any court of law. Now, after the verdict, he is claiming that faith has been upheld by law. This is an atrocious politicising of the issue," she said at a media briefing.

Natarajan refused to give an official comment on the high court verdict. "But we still believe that a negotiated settlement is the best option, failing which the verdict of the court must be respected by all parties," she said.