2 Muslim litigants willing to start out-of-court talks

LUCKNOW: Two of the main Muslim petitioners of the long-standing Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit - Haji Mahboob Ahmad and Mohammad

Umar

- on Monday in a joint statement said that they were willing to go for an out-of-court settlement talks on the dispute. The statement by the two Muslim petitioners said that "an out-of-court settlement of the Ayodhya issue will bring long term harmony and peace between Hindus and Muslims."


Written on the letterhead of Haji Mahboob, who has been representing his father Haji Mahmood Ahmad ever since the latter's demise, the statement lauded Art of Living founder "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's efforts to amicably resolve the Ayodhya issue" and that "full support" would be lent to his "noble efforts."

Ahmad had first petitioned in court on the issue in 1949 and Mohammad Umar is the son of Mohammad Farooq, also one of the co-petitioner on the Muslim side of the dispute representing the Muslim side. Haji Mahboob, who lives near Ramjanmbhoomi police station in Ayodhya, told TOI: "The Supreme Court in one of its order had said that an amicable solution to the whole dispute should be looked at. We have not said that we are ready to give up on the

mosque

, but if some responsible person is coming forth to talk, we are willing to welcome him to begin these talks. The pros and cons of such talks and a proposal, if any, will be dealt with later.

The statement signed by Haji Mahboob and Mohammad Umar was also signed by Maulana Jalal Ashraf, Imam of the Kevda mosque in Ayodhya, Maulana Qari Mohd Aslam, Imam of the Tedhi Bazaar mosque and Imam of the Ayodhya Eidgah and Mohd Azam, member of the Haji Mahboob led Anjuman Mohafiz Masjid-wa-Maqabir.

Speaking on behalf of Sri Sri, his spokesperson, Gautam VIj said: "Sri Sri has always held that an out-of-court settlement is best in this situation. It would bring both communities together in the national spirit." He added, "Gurudev has met over 500 maulanas and imams and everyone echoed the same feeling that only an our of court settlement will bring hearts and minds of the communities together."

The Art of Living founder had initiated talks for an out of court settlement in the dispute first in October 2017 and had visited Lucknow in November where he started meeting represenatives of both sides, followed by a visit to Ayodhya, where he met the main petitioners on both the

Hindu

and Muslim side. However, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has been rejecting Sri Sris proposal saying that only by following directions of the court and lawmakers can peace be maintained.