Parties won’t politicise Ayodhya verdict, plan to stay off streets

Political parties on Tuesday renewed their pledge of staying off the streets and instead knock the doors of the Supreme Court if the Allahabad high court verdict is not to their liking.

While lauding the apex court’s decision that has paved the way for an early verdict, politicians from the ruling Congress and NCP, as also the BJP and Shiv Sena, admitted there is anxiety over the outcome.

BJP’s senior leader Madhav Bhandari said, “We welcome the decision and hope the high court verdict will put an end to the uncertainty.” However, the BJP has kept its future plans under wraps, arguing, “Only after the court confers the land title on one party, can we can evolve our strategy. In any case, it is just a 48-hour wait.” The unrest within the party, which hopes the verdict would boost the moral of its cadre, is visible.

However, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad appeared more confident of a verdict in favour of what they term ‘Ramlala’. VHP general secretary Vyantekesh Abdeo said, “Ramlala is also one of the parties in the case apart from the Wakf Board and Ramjanmabhoomi. Victory for Ramlala is almost a certainty.”

According to Congress leader Hussain Dalwai, also the president of the Maulana Azad Manch, “We cannot lose sight of the fact that the verdict comes ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. A lot foreign dignitaries have arrived for the event. Political parties, who always boast about nationalism, should work to ensure communal harmony.”

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Manikrao Thakre and NCP president Madhukar Picchad have also directed their partymen not to engage in any act that would be construed as politicisation of the Ayodhya verdict and may spell trouble on the streets.