Hindus and Muslims live like brothers in Ayodhya, points out Hashim Ansari
Hindus and Muslims live like brothers in Ayodhya, points out Hashim Ansari |
|
| Worldly wise: Hashim Ansari, 90, (top) is the first petitioner in the Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute. He says that he would like a verdict that is in the favour of the nation more than him and any other petitioner. (above) Security is at an all-time high at the eastern UP town ahead of the verdict on Friday.u00a0Pics/Rajeev Tyagi |
For the last 50 years, Hashim Ansari has seen enough to be not to be excited about the verdict in a suit that he filed in 1961.
The 90-year-old Ansari was the first petitioner in what is now the most controversial civil suit in the history of the nation -- the Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid case.
The Y category security is no indicator of the life in penury that Ansari leads at a 5X10 foot house in the Punji Tola area, near the Ramjanambhoomi police station.
Talking to MiD DAY, Ansari informed that he would not go to Lucknow on Friday when the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court is expected to decide on the civil suit regarding the Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid.
"I would watch it live over television from my home," he said. Ansari is very well aware of the consequences that the nation has faced in the wake of the conflict of interest in claims over the land and expects the decision to be in the "favour of the nation."
"I want it to be in the favour of the nation. I don't see any win or loss in this," Ansari said stoically when asked what are expectations from the court.
Ansari's only son and three grandsons among four are taxi-drivers earning their livelihood in and around the Ayodhya city.
"I am fed up with politicians, who mixes religious sentiments with politics for their self gains," said Ansari about the politics around the case. He said he wanted no more delays in the verdict and no more petitions. "The case should be decided in Lucknow only. If you allow it to continue, politicians will again get into the act, stoke passions on both sides and all hell will break lose. Whatever the decision, it has to be accepted by one and all," Ansari told MiD DAY.
When asked if the suit is decided in his favour, would he like the mosque to be rebuilt, Ansari said, "Not immediately, at least. It might hurt the sentiments of our Hindu brethren. I don't want more houses to be burnt, more people to die. I will be satisfied with a verdict which accepts our claim to the title."
Ansari, who maintains a more than cordial relation with a number of sadhus, had a word of caution for the media too. "Only media can change this country."
| Secure Ayodhya |
| The control of the disputed premises has been fully given to CRPF on Wednesday. All the security barricades raised on the roads leading towards disputed premises will be closed from Thursday. The vehicles and persons will be allowed to enter into the city only after security check and frisking. Besides 10 companies of CRPF, 25 companies of PAC, 5000 men from Home Guard, 40 company of District Armed Force have been deployed in Ayodhya.
"The district police has deployed 60 inspectors, 68 sub-inspectors, 205 head constables, 795 constables in addition to 30 lady-head constables, 240 lady-constables," said a senior police officer. |
