RSS chief's stand on Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri masjid dispute anti-national, say Muslim leaders

Muslim leaders have sharply reacted to the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's statement in which he said that the Ram temple would be built at the disputed site in Ayodhya even if the court verdict is not in favour.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind leader Maulana Arshad Madani said that the utterances of the RSS' chief are not only unconstitutional but also amount to sedition and treason.

Madani said that the Muslims have always said that they would abide by the judiciary, even if its verdict goes against us but the RSS leader has exposed the mindset of right-wing forces who don't believe in the law.

"When charges have been framed by CBI against 23 persons accused of demolition of the mosque and they include Shiv Sena's Bal Thackeray and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Acharya Dharmendra, the RSS leader is making a mockery of our democracy, particularly, when the Lucknow bench is about to pronounce the long-awaited judgment", he said.

Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari has also objected to the RSS stand. "The statement that temple would be constructed by force, is provocative and speaks volumes about the Hindutva forces' belief in law.

Bukhari said that it is a dangerous signal as lack of respect for law would lead to jungle-raj in this nation. He urged the Prime Minister to take a serious view of the RSS stand.

Other Muslim leaders have also criticised the RSS. The much-awaited verdict of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case is expected to arrive by mid-December.

TIH Bureau