As the nation eagerly awaits the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony scheduled for January 22 at the Ram Janmabhoomi, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has reignited the debate surrounding the title deed dispute. On Saturday, Owaisi claimed that the Babri Masjid was systematically taken away from Muslims, casting a shadow over the upcoming event.
The protracted legal battle concluded with a landmark ruling by a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, favoring the Hindu claim in the title dispute. The ruling, based on findings by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), asserted that the Babri mosque was built on the remnants of a temple at Ram Janmabhoomi in the 16th century.
Despite the legal verdict, the controversial demolition of the mosque in 1992 by Kar Sevaks triggered communal riots nationwide, resulting in numerous casualties. Subsequently, the site became a focal point for religious activities, with Kar Sevaks worshipping an idol of Ram Lalla at the location.
Owaisi, speaking to reporters, asserted, “Muslims offered namaz in Babri Masjid for 500 years. The Babri Masjid was taken away from us in a systematic manner. If the idols placed inside the masjid during Govind Ballabh Pant’s tenure had been removed and the mosque not demolished in 1992, the current situation might have been different.”
He criticized political figures, including Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, for what he perceived as efforts to appease the majority community. Owaisi highlighted historical events, claiming that there was no Ram Mandir in Ayodhya when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) was founded and that Mahatma Gandhi never addressed the issue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to perform rituals during the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, with top seers from across the country officiating the main rituals. The ceremony will witness the participation of celebrities and dignitaries, adding to the significance of the event. As the country gears up for this momentous occasion, Owaisi’s remarks inject a renewed perspective into the complex and historically charged Ram Janmabhoomi dispute.