Building mosque in Ayodhya impossible, land can be gifted to Hindus: Muslim group

A group of Muslim intellectuals on Thursday called for a negotiated settlement to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, saying the Muslims should explore the option of gifting the disputed land in Ayodhya to Hindus. The Indian Muslims for Peace, which met in Lucknow, also observed that construction of a mosque in Ayodhya is impossible in the current situation. 

Lieutenant General Zameer Uddin Shah, one of the members of the group, said  even if the judgment of the Supreme Court will be in favour of them, the option for Muslims is to gift the land to the majority community in return for a guarantee that the Places of Worship Amendment Act will be given strength, reported NDTV. 

“Even if the court rules in favour of the Muslims, will it be possible to build a mosque there? I think it's an impossibility. Seeing the surcharged atmosphere in the country, that is a dream that cannot be fullfilled,” he told the TV channel.

The group's meeting came even as the hearing in the politically sensitive case before a five-judge Constitution bench has reached its concluding stage.

Last Friday, the top court said it would wrap up the hearing by October 17, a day sooner than the earlier schedule.

The Muslim side would complete the arguments on October 14, it said, adding that thereafter, two days would be granted to the Hindu parties to sum up their rejoinders—October 16.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, had earlier fixed the deadline of October 18 to conclude the hearing. Justices S.A. Bobde, D.Y. Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S.A. Nazeer are the other members of the bench.

The judgment in the matter is to be pronounced by November 17, the day the CJI will retire.

The apex court had on August 6 commenced day-to-day proceedings in the case as the mediation proceedings initiated to find the amicable resolution had failed.