With less than a week left for the judgement on the Ayodhya title suit dispute, political leaders including the Bharatiya Janata Party's L K Advani and religious bodies renewed calls for calm and restraint underscoring that further legal options will be open and that the case will go to the Supreme Court.
Cautioning people against falling prey to disruptive elements, the leaders stressed that it is not the end for the road for either of the parties to the suit after the verdict is given and that the apex court was bound to be approached.
"No matter in whose favour the verdict goes, it(case) will go to the Supreme Court," said Advani in Ahmedabad. "I have told my party MPs in the parliamentary party meeting that I would request you to not to speculate. We will take a decision on what would be the reaction once the court verdict is out," he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while making a forceful appeal for calm after the verdict said the Supreme Court was bound to be approached by parties in case the judgement went against them. Abdullah, who was in Jammu, appealed to people not to take law into their own hands and asked them to confront the disruptive elements.
The Indian Union Muslim League appealed to people to respect the verdict and said people can move the Supreme Court if they have any reservation. In a statement, IUML President and Union Minister of State for Railways E Ahamed said it is the duty of all sections of people in a "civilised society" to respect the verdict of the court and show restraint in their reaction, if any, on such sensitive issues.
"The IUML appeals to all sections of people to respect the judgement as the judiciary is the epitome of justice for the people of the country," he said.
Even if there is any reservation or difference of opinion about the judgement, anybody is free to move and appeak to the Apex Court, he said. "Under no circumstances, the contents of the verdict should be taken for breach of peace or law and order," Ahamed said.
Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav, who is also the convener of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, issued an appeal to the people to respect "whatever verdict" the court gives on Ayodhya issue and urged them to "oppose all those who create trouble" on the issue. Asked whether he is sure that VHP and Bajrang Dal will not create trouble if the court judgement does not go as they want, Yadav said, "whoever they are. I do not want to take names but it is not proper to create tension in the society on this issue."
Asked about the VHP-sponsored Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas' demand for a legislation to resolve the issue and build a temple at the site, Yadav said, "JD-U believes that a solution to the issue can come only either through mutual understanding or a court verdict. We do not support any other way except these two."
The Centre has already appealed to all the parties to maintain peace after the verdict which is due to be delivered by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on September 24.
