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THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH Vol. 15 No. 224 Established 1938 | 32 PAGES deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews I SUNDAY I 10 NOVEMBER 2019 PLUS A FREE COPY OF 16-PAGE SUNDAY CHRONICLE | `4.00 RAM LALLA COMES HOME, A NEW MASJID TO RISE SC calls Babri’s demolition a crime, but says ’ claim on land is stronger 5 judges pronounce TODAY IS the day to unanimous verdict forget any bitterness one may have; there PRAMOD KUMAR | DC is no place for fear, NEW , NOV. 9 INSiDE bitterness and In an unprecedented case negativity in new based on faith and belief, RAM TEMPLE India the Supreme Court on Saturday “unanimously” , paved the way for the con- WORK TO BEGIN Prime Minister struction of Lord Ram’s temple at as it IN APRIL IT IS A moment of rejected the Muslim claim over the disputed site and ● The RSS is now hop- fulfilment for me handed over the entire ing to lay the temple’s because God 1,500 square yard of the foundation stone on the Almighty had given “composite” disputed area ‘Ram Navmi’ next April. me an opportunity to comprising the inner and make my own humble the outer court yard of the ■ REPORT ON PAGE 4 now demolished Babri contribution to the Masjid to a trust that mass movement would construct the tem- ple and would be set up by RAJIV GANDHI’S L.K. ADVANI, the Central government in Veteran BJP leader next three months. BLUNDERS The disputed land would THE SUPREME remain in the custody of HELPED BJP RISE Court's the statutory receiver till verdict has come. We the Trust is formed and the ● Rajiv Gandhi’s are in favour of the land handed over to it. The handling of Shah Bano construction of Ram court said that the Central government would be at case and shila nyas at temple. This “liberty to make suitable Ayodhya helped BJP judgment also closed provisions in respect of the ■ REPORT ON PAGE 5 the doors for BJP and rest of the acquired land by others to politicise handing it over to the trust” for its management the issue. and development. PEOPLE KEEP RANDEEP SURJEWALA The verdict was deliv- Five Supreme Court judges — Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi (centre) flanked by Justice Ashok Bhushan (left), Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde (second ered by Chief Justice CALM, PEACEFUL from left), Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud (second from right), Justice S. Abdul Nazeer (right) — pose for a photograph after delivering the verdict Congress spokesman Ranjan Gogoi who along on Ayodhya land case in on Saturday. ■ Judges’ profiles are on Page 2 — PTI with Chief Justice desig- nate Justice S.A. Bobde, ON SOCIAL MEDIA Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, ● The offline calm main- Justice Ashok Bhushan RAM LALLA and Justice S. Abdul tained by restrained citi- Civil code, Kashi, Sidelined Advani: ‘Blessed’ Nazeer had heard the mat- zens was palpable on SLEEPS WHILE ter for 40 days starting on Twitter too. YOJNA GUSAI | DC 1990s Ram Janmabhoomi ing the BJP much political August 6 and concluding NEW DELHI, NOV. 9 movement, whose Rath gains, felt “vindicated” ■ VERDICT READ on October 16 when judg- REPORT ON PAGE 8 next? Yatra to support the over the Supreme Court ment was reserved. VIKRAM SHARMA | DC L.K. Advani, the most VHP’s mandir movement verdict. The hearing was rooted necessary because though SANJAY BASAK | DC Katiyar. also a key accused AYODHYA, NOV. 9 prominent face of the is given credit for bring- ■ Turn to P4 in a batch of petitions chal- on a balance of probabili- NEW DELHI, NOV. 9 in the case lenging September 30, 2010, ties, the evidence in had announced: “We are Ram Lalla had just High Court respect of the possessory “What would the verdict waiting for the Supreme fallen asleep when the judgment in which the dis- claim of the Hindus to the be, if Babri (masjid) had Court verdict on Ayodhya. verdict was read out — puted site was divided into composite whole of the dis- not been razed”, asked After that, we will build granting the perma- three parts with Hindu liti- puted property stands on a Asaduddin Owaisi , leader Ram temple and then move nent resident status to gants — the Idol of Ram better footing than the evi- of the All India Majlis-e- towards liberating Kashi him, in the land Lalla and Nirmohi Akhara dence adduced by the Ittehadul Muslimeen. and Mathura temples.” Hindus believed getting one part each and Muslims …” While the His remarks are a chill- belonged to him. Muslims’ Sunni Waqf “… the Muslims were dis- and the BJP welcome the ing reminder to the slogan Outside in “Ram Board the third. possessed upon the dese- Supreme Court verdict, referring to Gyanvapi Nagari”, the roads The top court described cration of the mosque on others argued that the mosque at and were deserted, shops the High Court judgment 22/23 December 1949 Supreme Court has hand- Shahi Idgah Mosque at shut and anxious as “legally unsustainable”. which was ultimately ed over the disputed site to Mathura — Ayodhya abhi locals stayed indoors Handing over the entire destroyed on 6 December the ruling BJP which con- jhanki hai, Mathura, while in Tedhi Bazaar, disputed site for the con- 1992. There was no aban- tinue to have “individuals Kashi baaki hai. green flags and bunti- struction of Lord Ram’s donment of the mosque by and leaders responsible for After the verdict, when ngs fluttered to mark temple, the top court the Muslims,” said the the demolition of the Babri defence minister Rajnath Milad un Nabi. A pol- ordered giving Muslims a court. Masjid in its ranks.” Singh was asked about the ice posse positioned “suitable” five-acre plot The court said that the The verdict, described other core issue, the themselves all over, either by the Central gov- Sunni Central Waqf Board “unjust” by the All India Uniform Civil Code, he many tired and some ernment out of the would be at liberty on the Muslim Personal Law said: “Time has come.” yawning and whisper- acquired 67 acres of land allotment of the land to Board (AIMPLB) not mere- The court’s offer direct- ing “Hey Ram!” or by the Uttar Pradesh take all necessary steps for ly paved the way for the ing the Centre to allot an Around 1 pm, after government at a “suitable the construction of a construction of the Ram alternative 5-acre plot to his brief rest, Ram prominent place in mosque on the land allot- temple” but also legit- the Sunni Waqf Board for Lalla woke up to songs Ayodhya.” ted together with other imised the saffron slogan, building a new mosque of “ Ram” on the The court said that both associated facilities. which rent the air after the was flayed by Owaisi. loudspeakers, temple the creation of trust and The court ordered giving kar sevaks demolished the Clutching at the straws, bells, crackers, as well handing over the entire Sunni Waqf Board five mosque — Mandir wahi the AIMPLB is consider- as chants of “Jai disputed site to it and giv- acres of “suitable” land at banayenge. ing going for a review peti- Ram”; he comfortably ing Sunni Waqf Board five Ayodhya taking recourse The top court’s decision tion, but the Shia Waqf sat on his throne to acres of land would be to its plenary powers could also cast a shadow Board supported the ver- again give “darshan” done simultaneously. under Article 142 of the over some other mosques dict and said it was against to visitors. Justifying the allotment Constitution. in the country if the BJP’s any review petition. of land to Muslims, the Hindutva hawk Vinay ■ Page 4: It’s Modi or court said, “The allotment ■ Page 4: Muslims failed to Katiyar is to be believed. ■ Page 4: Verdict bolsters everywhere of land to the Muslims is prove exclusive possession Ahead of the verdict, Mr Modi’s Hindu image When cops joined kar sevaks to shout Jai Shri Ram SANJAY KAW was put through intense grilling to One early morning (a few days establish my credentials as a kar FLASHBACK before the December 6 demolition), mong the hundreds and sevak. Several times I had to recite hundreds of people gathered near thousands of kar sevaks an apocryphal tale of being a my tent. They were carrying boul- armed with hammers Kashmiri migrant who had aban- ders and shovels and shouting “Jai and shovels, I wormed doned his studies because of mili- Shri Ram”. Out of fear, I too joined my way as an undercov- tant activity. It was terrifying to the mob, which was led by then erA for the Statesman newspaper to see the extent to which the BJP MP B.L. Sharma ‘Prem’. Soon, the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh the mob started breaking down Masjid site in Ayodhya way back (RSS), BJP, Vishwa Hindu three gravestones. I also carried in December 1992. Before going to Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang the debris to a nearby pond, along the holy town, I was told that all Dal combine had gone to ensure with other kar sevaks. Within no kar sevaks were being issued there was no infiltration. All time some makeshift shops were parichay patras (letters of identifi- through my stay in Ayod-hya, the set up at the site to sell tea. All cation/introduction). To obtain BJP’s letter proved to be my sole this happened in the presence of this, I visited the BJP unit in south protection. After I was accepted as the saffron party leader. People Delhi’s Ambedkar Nagar. I con- “genuine”, I saw first hand the face called it “chhoti (small) kar ”. vinced the party office-bearer there of religious zealotry that had Some activists even that I was a Kashmiri Pandit who remained veiled by political wanted to build a small temple had to abandon his studies because hoopla. there, but they were prevented by of militancy in the Valley. He gave I managed to stay with the kar others because, they said, it would me the letter on hearing my story. sevaks from Delhi and Haryana in a hamper the work of Ram temple. For this subterfuge, I took on the tent at Guru Gobind Singh camp by pracharaks of the RSS and ■ Turn to P4 name of Sanjay Kaul. In Ayodhya, I near the disputed site. I was briefed “indoctrinated” by the Bajrang Dal. DECCAN CHRONICLE 2 JUDGMENT DAY SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI

SC: No basis for HC to trifurcate site

DC CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, NOV. 9

The Supreme Court on Saturday found faults with the Allahabad high court verdict by which it had on September 30, 2010 trifurcated the disputed site in three parts, giving one each to idol of Ram Lalla and Hindu sect Nirmohi Akhara and one part to Muslims. The Allahabad high court judgment partitioning the disputed site in three parts was pronounced on September 30, 2010. Noting that the high court was called upon to decide the question of title particularly in the declaratory suits, the top court constitution bench headed by the Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, “The high court has adopted a path which was not open to it in terms of the principles” that top court had set-out in the judgment. “There was no basis in the pleadings before the high court and certainly no warrant in the reliefs, which were claimed to direct a division of the land in the manner that a court would do in a suit for partition,” top court said, taking a dim view of the high court judgment by which it partitioned the disputed site in three parts. In assessing the correctness of the decree of the high court, the top court today said, “It must be When kar sevaks brought down Babri noted at the outset that the high court was not seized of a suit for partition. In a suit for parti- Hindu activists climb up the dome of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya which was quickly demolished by end of the day. — SONDEEP SHANKAR tion, it is trite law that every party is both a plain- tiff and defendant.” The top court further noted that high court granted reliefs, which were not the subject matter of the prayers in the suits before it and in the “process of doing so, it proceeded to assume the jurisdiction of a civil court in a suit for partition, which the suits before it were not.” Having pointed to the flaws in the high court judgment of September 30, 2010, the top court said that the high court was hearing a suit by a wor- shipper seeking the enforcement of the right to a suit by Nirmohi Akhara, asserting Shebaiti rights to the management and charge of the temple, a declaratory suit on title by the Sunni Central Waqf The five Board and Muslims, and a suit for a declaration on behalf of the in which an injunc- tion has also been At 10.30 am on Saturday, November 9, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court deliv- sought restraining THE ALLAHABAD HIGH any obstruction with ered a unanimous verdict in the Ayodhya title suit case after a 40-day marathon daily COURT JUDGMENT the construction of a PARTITIONING THE temple. Wondering where hearing on the matter. Meet the five. DISPUTED SITE IN were the basis for tri- THREE PARTS furcating the disput- WAS PRONOUNCED ON ed site, the top court SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 today said, “The high court has completely erred in granting relief which lay out- side the ambit of the pleadings and the cases set up by the plaintiffs” – idol of Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and Sunni Central Waqf Board. Having said this, the top court said that there was “another serious flaw” in the entire approach of the high court in granting relief of a three-way bifurcation of the disputed site as it went ahead partitioning the disputedsite in three parts, even though it had decreed that suit of Nirmohi Akhara and Sunni Waqf Board was time barred. “Having come to the conclusion that Suit 3 (filed by Nirmohi Akhara) and Suit 4 (filed by Sunni Central Waqf Board) were barred by limitation, the high court proceeded to grant relief in Suit 5 (by idol of Ram Lalla) to the plaintiffs in Suits 3 (Nirmohi Akhara) and 4 (Sunni Central Waqf Ranjan Gogoi, Sharad Arvind Bobde, Ashok Bhushan, D.Y. Chandrachud, S. Abdul Nazeer, Board). This defies logic and is contrary to settled principles of law”, said that top court. Chief Justice of India CJI-designate SC judge SC judge SC judge The three judges of the Allahbad high court – Justices S.U. Khan, Sudhir Agrawal and Dharam he 46th Chief Justice of orn in 1956 in Nagpur, ustice Ashok Bhushan, n May 2016, Dhananjaya ustice S. Abdul Nazeer Veer Sharma – took concurring and divergent India, Ranjan Gogoi, Justice S.A. Bobde got born in 1956 in Jaunpur, Yeshwant Chandrachud practised in the positions on the issues before them in 2010. Tborn in 1954, joined the Bhis BA and LLB JUP, obtained a law Iwas appointed a judge of JKarnataka high court On Sunni Central Waqf Board’s claim over the Bar in 1978, and was elevat- degrees from Nagpur degree from Allahabad the Supreme Court. for 20 years after he enrolled Babri Masjid, Justice Khan had said that till 1934, ed as a judge of the Supreme University and enrolled in University in 1979 and was Previously he was the Chief as an advocate in February Muslims were offering regular prayers and since Court in 2012. In October the Roll of the Bar Council elevated as a permanent Justice of the Allahabad 1983. Born in 1958, Justice 1934 till December 22,1949, they were offering only last year, he was appointed of Maharashtra in 1978. judge of the Allahabad high high court. Nazeer was appointed as an Friday prayers in the premises in dispute. The Chief Justice of India. He Justice Bobde practised law court in 2001 and as a judge Justice Chandrachud, born additional judge of the offering of only Friday prayers was also sufficient has heard several landmark at the Nagpur Bench of the of the Supreme Court in in 1959, was appointed as the high court in for continuance of possession and use. cases, including one pertain- Bombay high court with 2016. additional solicitor-general 2003 and as a permanent However, Justice Agrawal said that the Muslim ing to National Citizens appearances in Bombay Justice Bhushan joined the in 1998. He practised law at judge in 2004. He was elevat- parties have failed to prove that the property in Register. In an unprecedent- before the principal seat and bench dealing with Ayodhya the Supreme Court and the ed as Supreme Court judge dispute was constructed by Emperor Babur or by ed move in January 2018, he also before the Supreme matter months after deliver- Bombay high court. A Delhi in 2017. He is one among a Mir Baqi. along and other Supreme Court for over 21 years. ing a relatively important University graduate, Justice very few in India who The question as to when disputed structure was Court judges held a press Justice Bobde was desig- judgment on September 27, Chandrachud obtained his became a Supreme Court built and by whom, Justice Agrawal said it cannot conference to express their nated a senior advocate in 2018, in which a three-mem- LLM degree and a doctorate judge without becoming be replied with certainty since neither there is displeasure with CJI Dipak 1998 and was elevated to the ber bench refused to refer to in juridical sciences from chief justice of any of the any pleading nor there is any evidence/material Misra. On April 19, 2019, a bench of the Bombay high five-judge Constitution Harvard Law School. high courts in the country. to arrive at a concrete finding on this aspect. former female Supreme court as additional judge in bench a 1994 verdicvt which He is known to have over- Justice Nazeer was part of However, applying the principle of informed Court employee accused CJI 2000. He was sworn in as the held that mosque was not turned several rulings the five-judge bench in the guess, he had said that it appears that the building Gogoi of sexual misconduct. Chief Justice of the Madhya integral to offering prayers believed to have turned “triple talaq” matter but had in dispute may have been constructed, probably In response, he convened an Pradesh high court in 2012 in Islam. Writing for himself obsolete with time. Some delivered a minority verdict between 1659 to 1707 A.D. during the regime of extraordinary hearing and and elevated as a judge of and then CJI Dipak Misra, such verdicts, including along with then Chief Aurangzeb. denied the charges. Many Supreme Court next year. he declined the request that those on the adultery law Justice of India J.S. Khehar. Justice Dharam Veer Sharma in turn had said jurists and lawyers were His retirement is due in the 1994 judgment be sent to and the right to privacy, They upheld the validity of that the mosque if adversely possessed by a non- shocked at the “procedural April 2021. Justice Bobde a larger bench as it would were handed down from his the practise of Triple Talaq Muslim will lose its sacred character as a mosque impropriety” shown by him. will be the next CJI, taking have a bearing in the Ram father, Y.V. Chandrachur, the based on that fact that it is and the Sunni Central waqf Board were not in He was later issued a clean charge on November 18, after Janmabhoomi-Babri masjid longest serving Chief permissible under Muslim possession of the Babri Masjid and had filed a suit chit by a SC inquiry panel. Justice Gogoi demits office. land dispute. Justice of India. Sharia Law. for recovery of possession. He said that there was no reliable evidence to show that Muslims offered prayers from times immemorial. While Justice Khan had said that it is not proved by direct evidence that premises in dispute, ‘Respect judgment, but verdict holds no value for us’ including constructed portion belonged to Babar or the person, who constructed the mosque or afaryab Jilani — secre- the verdict. We are unhappy could be committed by any- under whose orders it was constructed. However, tary All India Muslim and dissatisfied with this judg- body, and even the Supreme he said that the disputed was constructed as ZPersonal Law Board and ment. There are several por- Court had reviewed its judg- mosque by or under orders of Babar. lawyer representing the Sunni tions in the judgment. The We will decide on the further ments on several occasions in Holding that no temple was demolished for con- Waqf Board in the Ayodhya Ayodhya verdict has a lot of course of action after studying the past. structing the mosque, Justice Khan had said that land dispute case contradictions and some incor- the mosque was constructed over the ruins of rect findings also. the judgment in detail... We will Q4. Will the verdict create a temples, which were lying in utter ruins since a Q1. Are you satisfied with file a review petition if our feeling of discontentment in very long time before the construction of mosque the verdict of the Supreme Q2. What will be your future executive committee agrees on a section of society? and some material thereof was used in construc- Court on the Ram course of action on the it. It is our right and it is in the tion of the mosque. Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue? will discuss if a review petition Supreme Court’s rules as well. A. The verdict doesn’t signify a Justice Agrawal had held that the matter land dispute? should be filed or not. We will victory or defeat for any com- “mounts to delving into some kind of conjectures A. We will decide on the fur- file a review petition if our Supreme Court judgment to munity. There should be no but since it is a case which necessarily goes in his- A. We respect the Supreme ther course of action after executive committee agrees on be just? demonstration of any kind tory and particularly when for sufficiently long Court judgment but the studying the judgment in it. It is our right and it is in the anywhere on it. We urge people time, the things are in dark in the absence of Ayodhya verdict holds no value detail. We respect the verdict, Supreme Court’s rules as well. A. The entire country must to maintain peace and we will anything to the contrary, the present matter would for us. Five acres has no value but the judgment is not satis- respect the dignity of the apex take whatever legal recourse fall within the domain of preponderance of for us. We are not satisfied with factory. It is not a defeat. We Q3. Do you consider the court. However, a mistake we can. probability.” DECCAN CHRONICLE 3 JUDGMENT DAY SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI A reasonable inference

he evidence indicates that despite the existence of The a mosque at the site, Hindu worship at the place Tbelieved to be the birth-place of Lord Ram was not restricted. The existence of an Islamic structure at a place considered sacrosanct by the Hindus did not stop them from continuing their worship at the disputed site and within the precincts of the structure prior to the incidents of 1856-7. The physical structure of an Islamic mosque did not shake the faith and belief of Hindus that Lord Ram was Verdict born at the disputed site. There is no evidence to the contrary by the Muslims to indicate that their posses- sion of the disputed structure of the mosque was exclu- Excerpts from the 1,045-page judg- sive and that the offering of namaz was exclusionary of the Hindus; ment by a Constitution Bench of Hindu worship at Ramchabutra, Sita Rasoi and at other religious places including the setting up of a Bhandar clearly indicated their open, exclusive and the Supreme Court in the unimpeded possession of the outer courtyard. The Muslims have not been in possession of the outer court- Ayodhya land title suit, one of the yard. Despite the construction of the wall in 1858 by the British and the setting up of the Ramchabutra in close- most important verdicts in India’s proximity of the inner dome, Hindus continued to assert their right to pray inside the three-domed struc- ture; The net result, as it emerges from the evidentiary judicial history, ending record is thus: The disputed site is one composite whole. The railing a century-old dispute set up in 1856-7 did not either bring about a sub-division of the land or any determination of title; ANTIQUITY OF THE ISSUE boundaries of the discipline, The Sunni Central Waqf Board has not established its we can eschew extreme posi- case of a dedication by user… he history and culture of tions and search for the often  The Hindus have been in exclusive and unimpeded this country have been elusive median. possession of the outer courtyard where they have con- Thome to quests for truth, tinued worship; through the material, the polit- UPHOLDING ASI CONCLUSION  The inner courtyard has been a contested site with ical, and the spiritual. This ON EXCAVATIONS AT THE conflicting claims of the Hindus and Muslims; court is called upon to fulfil its The existence of the structure of the mosque until 6 adjudicatory function where it DISPUTED SITE December 1992 does not admit any contestation. The is claimed that two quests for t would be unfair to reject submission that the mosque did not accord with Islamic the truth impinge on the free- the conclusions, which have tenets stands rejected. The evidence indicates that there doms of the other or violate Ibeen arrived at by an expert was no abandonment of the mosque by Muslims. the rule of law. team which carried out the Namaz was observed on Fridays towards December This court is tasked with the excavation under the orders of 1949, the last namaz being on 16 December 1949 resolution of a dispute whose the high court and has careful- The damage to the mosque in 1934, its desecration in origins are as old as the idea of ly analysed the recoveries 1949 leading to the ouster of the Muslims and the even- India itself. The events associ- from distinct perspectives. Yet tual destruction on 6 December 1992 constituted a seri- ated with the dispute have the report must be read con- ous violation of the rule of law; and spanned the Mughal empire, textually, allowing for genuine The Hindus have established a clear case of a posses- colonial rule and the present divergences that arise on mat- sory title to the outside courtyard by virtue of long, con- constitutional regime. ters of interpretation… tinued and unimpeded worship at the Ramchabutra Having said this, we must also and other objects of religious signficance. The Hindus ‘JURISTIC PERSONALITY’ read the ASI report with the and the Muslims have contested claims to the offering following caveats: worship within the three domed structure in the inner egal systems across the Though the excavation has courtyard. The assertion by the Hindus of their entitle- world evolved from peri- revealed the existence of a cir- ment to offer worship inside has been contested by the Lods of darkness where cular shrine, conceivably a Muslims legal personality was denied to Shiva shrine dating back to the natural persons to the present seventh to ninth century AD, CONCLUSION day where in constitutional the underlying structure democracies almost all natural belongs to twelfth century AD. he facts, evidence and oral arguments have tra- persons are also legal persons The circular shrine and the versed the realms of history, archaeology, religion in the eyes of the law. Legal underlying structure with pil- Tand law. Law must stand apart from political con- systems have also extended the lar bases belong to two differ- testations over history, ideology and religion. For a case concept of legal personality ent time periods between three replete with references to archaeological foundations, beyond natural persons. This to five centuries apart; There we must remember that it is law which provides the edi- has taken place through the is no specific finding that the fice upon which our multicultural society rests. Law creation of the artificial legal underlying structure was a forms the ground upon which multiple strands of his- person or juristic person, temple dedicated to Lord Ram; A kar sevak before Babri Masjid’s demolition tory, ideology and religion can compete. By determining where an object or thing which and their limits, this court as the final arbiter must preserve is not a natural person is Significantly, the ASI has not In Ayodhya, December 1992, shortly before the Babri Masjid Structure was demolished by VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS the sense of balance that the beliefs of one citizen do not nonetheless recognised as a specifically opined on whether activists. — SONDEEP SHANKAR interfere with or dominate the freedoms and beliefs of legal person in the law… A a temple was demolished for another. legal person possesses a capa- the construction of the disput- bility to bear interests, rights ed structure though it has and duties. emerged from the report that The recognition of the Hindu the disputed structure was On documentary evidence idol as a legal or juristic per- constructed on the site and son is therefore based on two utilised the foundation and rior to 1856-7 premises employed by courts. material of the underlying there was no The first is to recognise the structure. Pexclusion of the pious purpose of the testator Consequently, when the ASI Hindus from wor- as a legal entity capable of report will be placed in bal- shipping within the holding property... The second ance in terms of its eviden- precincts of the is the merging of the pious tiary value in the course of inner courtyard; purpose itself and the idol this judgment, it is crucial for The conflagration which embodies the pious pur- the court to sift between what of 1856-7 led to the pose to ensure the fulfilment of the report finds and what it setting up of the rail- the pious purpose… So con- leaves unanswered. ing to provide a ceived, the Hindu idol is a legal The ASI report does find the bifurcation of the person. existence of a pre-existing places of worship …In a country like ours structure. The report deduces between the two com- where contesting claims over 17 rows of pillar bases (a total munities; The imme- property by religious commu- of 85). The report concludes on diate consequence of nities are inevitable, our the basis of the architectural the setting up of the courts cannot reduce ques- fragments found at the site and railing was the con- tions of title, which fall firmly the nature of the structure tinued assertion of within the secular domain and that it was of a Hindu religious the right to worship outside the rubric of religion, origin. by Hindus who set up to a question of which commu- The report rejects the possi- the Chabutra in the nity‘s faith is stronger bility (urged by the Sunni immediate proximity Central Waqf Board) of the of the railing. TOP COURT ON ARCHEOLOGY underlying structure being of Analysing the evi- Islamic origin. But the ASI dence advanced by rchaeology as a science report has left unanswered a Sunni Central Waqf draws on multi-discipli- critical part of the remit Board, the court says Anary or trans-discipli- which was made to it, namely, “Though, the case of nary approaches. In consider- a determination of whether a the Sunni Central ing the nature of archaeologi- had been demol- Waqf Board is that cal evidence, it is important to ished to pave way for the con- the mosque was con- remember that archaeology as struction of the mosque. ASI’s structed in 1528 by or a branch of knowledge draws inability to render a specific at the behest of sustenance from the science of finding on this facet is certain- Babur, there is no learning, the wisdom of expe- ly a significant evidentiary cir- account by them of rience and the vision which cumstance which must be possession, use or underlies the process of inter- borne in mind when the cumu- offer of namaz in the pretation… lative impact of the entire evi- mosque between the Archaeology combines both dence is considered in the final date of construction science and art. As a science, it analysis. and 1856-7. is based on the principle of For a period of over objective evaluation. As an art, INTERPRETING HISTORY 325 years which elap- it relies on a vision which is sed since the date of realised through years of com- nterpreting history is an mosque construction mitment to the pursuit of exercise fraught with pit- until the setting knowledge based on the histo- Ifalls. There are evident gaps up of a grill-brick ries of eras. Archaeology as a in the historical record, as we wall by the British, discipline cannot be belittled have seen from the Babur- Muslims have not as unreliable... Nama. Translations vary and adduced evidence to The supposed distinction have their limitations. establish the exer- between science as embodying The court must be circum- cise of possessory absolute truth and archaeolo- spect in drawing negative control over the dis- gy as unguided subjectivity is inferences from what a puted site. Nor is one of degree not of universes. historical text does not con- there any account in Yet as in other disciplines of tain. We are not construing a the evidence of the its genre, archaeology is as statute or a pleading. We are offering of namaz in much a matter of process as it looking into historical events the mosque, over this is of deduction. knit around legends. stories, period. The archaeologist must deal traditions and accounts writ- On the cotrary, the with recoveries as much as the ten in a social and cultural con- travelogues (chiefly finds‘ from them. text different from our own... Tieffenthaler and Interpretation is its heart, if Application of legal princi- Montgomery Martin) not its soul. Interpretations do ples to make deductions and provide a detailed vary and experts disagree. inferences out of historical account both of the When the law perceives an context is a perilous exercise. faith and belief of exercise of interpretation it One must exercise caution the Hindus based on must recognize margins of before embarking on the incli- the sanctity which error and differences of opin- nation of a legally trained they ascribed to the ion. mind to draw negative infer- place of birth of Archaeological findings are ences from the silences of his- Lord Ram and of the susceptible of multiple inter- tory. Silences are sometimes actual worship by pretations… So long as we best left to where they belong the Hindus at the understand the limits and — the universe of silence. Janmasthan. DECCAN CHRONICLE 4 JUDGMENT DAY SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI Muslims failed to prove possession

FROM PAGE 1 The Muslims have offered no evidence to On the inner court yard indicate that they were in on which Babri Masjid exclusive possession of the stood since 1528 till Dece- inner structure prior to mber 6, 1992 when it was 1857 since the date of the demolished, the court said. “As regards the construction in the six- inner courtyard, there is teenth century. After the evidence on a preponder- setting up of the grill-brick ance of probabilities to wall, the structure of the establish worship by the mosque continued to exist Hindus prior to the and there is evidence to annexation of Oudh by indicate that namaz was the British in 1857.” offered within its Rejecting the Muslim claim over the disputed precincts.” site under the three — THE SUPREME COURT domes of the now demol- 5-judge bench ished Babri Masjid, also described as inner court yard, the court said: “The in 1950, the worship of Muslims have offered no Hindu idols placed in the evidence to indicate that inner courtyard right they were in exclusive under the central dome possession of the inner of Babri Masid was per- structure prior to 1857 mitted. since the date of the con- Saying that the struction in the sixteenth Muslims have been century. After the setting “wrongly deprived of a up of the grill-brick wall, mosque which had been the structure of the constructed well over 450 mosque continued to years ago”, the judgment exist and there is evi- says, “during the penden- dence to indicate that cy of the suits, the entire namaz was offered with- structure of the mosque in its precincts.” was brought down in a Recalling that the Babri calculated act of destroy- mosque was “desecrat- ing a place of public wor- ed” on the intervening ship.” night of 22/23 December, Noting that the Hindus 1949, and the exclusion of have not brought on Muslims from “worship record any document and possession” of the showing the conferment mosque, the court said: of the title of the disput- “The ouster of the ed site to them and had Ayodhya residents celebrate ‘Deepavali’ Muslims on that occa- just produced records sion was not through any showing grants received Residents of Sadatganj area in Ayodhya burst fire crackers outside their houses on Saturday to celebrate the Supreme Court’s judgement to give dispute land to Hindus for the lawful authority but by them for maintaining construction of a Ram temple, ending decades-long litigation. — PTI through an act which the mosque, the court was calculated to deprive said, “This document, them of their place of even if it is accepted as worship.” authentic, indicates a The court further noted grant for specific purpos- that after the entire dis- es and does not confer IT’S MODI OR puted site was taken over the title to the disputed YOGI’S NAME and receiver appointed land.” EVERYWHERE Ram temple work SC verdict bolsters

FROM PAGE 1 PM’s Hindu image A “Peepli live” situation pre- FROM PAGE 1 ■ WITH THE top court vailed in the temple town ruling in favour of the today after the verdict. to begin in April As the Supreme Court’s Hindu plaintiff, the BJP A few hours before the judg- verdict yet again bol- ment, some shops in Faizabad stered Prime Minister government has nearly opened while others remained YOJNA GUSAI | DC ■ The VHP, which spearheaded Narendra Modi’s image ticked all the Hindutva shut anticipating trouble. As NEW DELHI, NOV. 9 the Sangh’s mandir campaign, as “Hindu Hriday boxes it had in its kitty one proceeded towards had asserted that almost 60 per Samrat,” the original — Abrogation of Article Sahabgunj and beyond to With the Supreme Court “facili- Let us not stretch it poster boy of Hindutva 370 and NRC. Ayodhya, all shops were tating” the construction of a cent of pillars and beams of the and the architect of the closed while local residents “grand” Ram Mandir in shrine are ready. Ram Janmabhoomi ■ THE ONLY major core were scattered, animatedly Ayodhya, the Rashtriya movement, L.K. Advani, issue remaining to be discussing the outcome of the Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is lowed by VHP working presi- further: Shahi Imam remained in the shad- clinched is the Uniform verdict or the possible scenar- now hoping to lay the temple’s dent Alok Kumar. They said the ows. No one in the party Civil Code. ios. Not a single discussion foundation stone on the ‘Ram verdict “should not be seen as ASHHAR KHAN | DC We accept the court order talked about the old ended without the mention of Navmi’ next April. anybody’s victory or defeat” and NEW DELHI, NOV. 9 and the Hindu-Muslim issue warhorse today. forget any bitterness one “Modi” or “Yogi.” While the Sangh and its affili- the “decision is in line with the should come to an end now Later in the evening, may have” and observed It was as if each knew what ate VHP gave a coordinated sentiments of the whole The All India Muslim Personal Muslims of India want peace in the Mr Advani issued a short that “there is no place for the verdict would be, and they response on the verdict, assert- nation.” Even the BJP, whose Law Board (AIMPLB) on Satu- country. Before the court’s order, statement saying “I feel fear, bitterness and nega- even challenged one another. ing that “truth and justice” have top brass had held meeting with rday expressed dissatisfaction vindicated and deeply tivity in new India.” Others sat around on their ter- prevailed and that the verdict is the RSS recently, echoed their with the verdict. All Muslim all Muslims had said that they blessed that the Supreme With the top court rul- races and balconies, watching neither a victory nor a defeat, views. leaders appealed to the commu- would accept the court’s order, Court has given its unan- ing in favour of the each vehicle or passer-by with sources said the completion of “We welcome this decision. nity to ensure that peace and whatever it be. imous verdict paving the Hindu plaintiff, the BJP suspicion. the temple could coincide with This case was going on for harmony prevails and nobody — DELHI’S SHAHI IMAM way for the construction government has nearly In front of barricades, the next Assembly polls in Uttar decades and it reached the right takes law into their hands. of a magnificent temple ticked all the Hindutva national and local TV set up Pradesh in 2022. For the past one conclusion. We wanted the issue “We are dissatisfied with cer- for Lord ...” boxes it had in its kitty — their bases and waited for the week, the RSS has been appeal- to end, this has happened. All tain findings of the Supre-me Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central A VHP functionary felt Abrogation of Article 370 verdict. ing for peace and harmony over sides were evaluated and truth Court. We respect the Supr-eme Waqf Board which was one of that the “closure” of the and NRC. The only major In colonies with Muslim res- the Supreme Court verdict pro- and justice have been highlight- Court verdict and respectfully the main litigants in the case, Ram Janmabhoomi dis- core issue remaining to idents, green flags and nounced on Saturday. ed,” Mr Bhagwat said. disagree with certain aspects of on Saturday welcomed the ver- pute is bound to add to be clinched is the “Unif- buntings were visible, but the The VHP, which spearheaded Mr Kumar said the verdict is a it,” said AIMPLB secretary dict and said it has no plans to Modi’s legacy of steering orm Civil Code.” Some Milad un Nabi celebrations the Sangh’s mandir campaign, “decisive step towards construc- Zafaryab Jilani. challenge it. The Shia Central the nation towards the ultra right-wing outfits were subdued. The adminis- has urged the Central govern- tion of a grand Ram temple” Mr Jilani said they will study Waqf Board, whose appeal was grand vision of establis- also want the word “secu- tration had cancelled the fes- ment to set up a trust for the and that it was a “day of happi- the judgement and may seek a dismissed by the apex court, hing a Hindu Rashtra.” lar” to be removed from tivities due to security rea- construction of the Ram ness for Hindus the world over.” review. “Even the inner court- has welcomed the verdict. However, after taking the Constitution. sons, which disturbed many. Mandir and had asserted that He also noted that “Hindu has yard has been given to the other Accepting the verdict, the over the reign of the At a time when the eco- By afternoon, all streets almost 60 per cent of pillars and the nature to live in maryada” party. It is not just,” he argued, Shahi Imam of the Jama nation, Prime Minister nomic slowdown has put were again deserted amidst a beams of the shrine are ready. therefore “the expression of joy adding the working committee Masjid in Delhi, Syed Ahmed has always spoken of a the government on the tight security vigil. Preempting any move to take cannot be aggressive.” of the board will soon sit and Bukhari, said on Saturday the united India and stressed backfoot and resulted in However, Ram Lalla political mileage or commu- When asked about the other discuss. “Whatever legal matter should not be stretched on the — Sabke its poor show in Haryana remained available as usual, nalise the verdict, the RSS had religious sites at Kashi and recourse is possible we will further. “We accept the court saath, Sabka vikas. and Maharashtra Assem- from 7 am to 11 am, a rest, and barred its leaders to react or act Mathura, Mr Kumar said the take,” Mr Jilani said. order and the Hindu-Muslim He had also urged peo- bly polls, the Supreme then again from 1 pm to 5 pm. in any manner on the verdict. VHP is “currently focussed on “We had hoped that the apex issue, which had been going on ple of the country not to Court’s verdict came as a But he had fewer visitors RSS leaders were also holding construction “of the Ram tem- court will pronounce its verdict for several years, should come construe the Ayodhya major boost for the party. today. talks with Muslim religious ple and it has no time for other not keeping the faith factor in to an end now Muslims of India verdict as a “matter of Some of the BJP spin While all roads leading to the leaders and influencers to check demands. mind, but available historical want peace in the country. victory or loss.” doctors felt that the ver- temple were deserted, a man any move to aggressive “About Kashi and Mathura, I facts and evidence,” said AIM- Before the court’s order, all Addressing the nation dict would offer the BJP dressed up as Lord response on the verdict. must make it clear that the judg- PLB member Kamal Farooqui. Muslims had said that they hours after the verdict, a “fighting chance in walked past, chanting “Jai It was RSS supremo Mohan ment is not the end of the story, However, Mr Zafar Ahmad would accept the court’s order, Mr Modi described Delhi and Jharkhand Shri Ram”. Bhagwat, who first reacted, fol- it is the beginning,” he said. Farooqui, the chairman of whatever it be.” “November 9 as a day to Assembly polls.”

ed in social media. Also, remembered on the day was late VHP stalwart Cops were ready to join kar sevaks Ashok Singhal, the crusader of the Ram janmabhoomi movement. Mr FROM PAGE 1 many PAC men. Always, I them invited us over for added. Two boys from Advani and Mr Joshi are still facing was treated with respect, breakfast to their camp, Hissar took me to their trial in the 1992 Babri mosque demoli- One person who was stay- even deference. One night including many kar sevaks tent. They showed me a tion case. ing with me in the tent told some kar sevaks and I spent who were carrying arms. flick knife and taught me Mr Advani noted that “Ram and me that all the arrange- hours chatting with a group The fact that I was a how to use it. I also saw occupy an esteemed place ments had been made by of PAC personnel. “We are Kashmiri Hindu and had some carrying wire- in India’s cultural and civilisational the RSS. “We have planned solidly behind you. Don’t travelled to Ayodhya at my less sets with them. A heritage” and the Ram Janmabhoomi the rann neeti (war strate- worry,” said a policeman. expense seemed to impress told me he was keep- in Ayodhya holds a “special and gy). And the UP police is “If we are ordered on people no end. ing an eye on those people sacred place in the hearts” Indians, supporting us. We are sure December 6 to attack you, A saint and a boy from who were moving suspi- even those living abroad. of our victory,” he said and we will lay down our arms Rajasthan bowed before me ciously around the site. “We “Therefore, it is gratifying that their even took me to a huge bho- and join you,” reassured when they heard this. They are keeping a close watch belief and sentiments have been janalaya for food. another. “Come what may, said Hindus needed staun- on journalists who are stay- respected....I also welcome the apex At the site of the then dis- we will force the paramili- ch supporters like me. The ing in Shaan-e-Avadh hotel court’s decision that five acres of land puted temple, the UP police tary to surrender,” said a boy from Jaipur told me in Faizabad,” he said. A file photo of L.K. Advani’s rath yatra. be given at a prominent place for the and the Provincial Armed third. that he had been assigned It was with great difficul- building of a mosque in Constabulary were placed Some days ago a constable the job of security, which ty that I managed to leave Ayodhya.....the time has come to leave outside the structure, while of the PAC had been sus- probably meant being with Ayodhya. On my way to all contention and acrimony behind the Central Reserve Police pended for removing bricks the PAC or the Uttar Faizabad, I was grilled Social media recalls Advani’s yatra and embrace communal concord and Force was inside. On the from the disputed struc- Pradesh police. again by kar sevaks. This peace,” said the BJP veteran. very first evening, I spotted ture, i.e. the Babri Masjid. A boy from Faridabad time they wanted to know FROM PAGE 1 Sidelined within the BJP, both Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, a PAC constable shouting A policeman told me that suggested that I join the why I was leaving the holy Advani and his colleague Murli who said November 9 will be written “Jai Shri Ram” slogans the PAC constable had RSS. He said a 20-day camp town. An official posted at In a statement, Mr Adv-ani “whole- Manohar Joshi are members of the in “golden letters in the history of along with kar sevaks bare- removed 10 to 12 bricks is held every year in three Faizabad railway station heartedly” welcomed the “historic party’s ‘margdarshak mandal,’ which India,” said “He (Advani) had taken ly a few metres away from when he was caught. places in the country to allowed me to leave only judgement” and said he “stand vindi- was formed in 2014 but has not offi- out ‘Rath-Yatra’ for this. I will surely the disputed structure. The bonhomie between impart training to Sangh after I convinced him that I cated and feel deeply blessed” that the cially held a single meeting since meet him and seek his blessings.” As I moved through the the kar sevaks and the activists. “This year we would be back with my apex court gave its unanimous ver- then. Earlier, Mr Joshi said the apex holy town wearing a two- Uttar Pradesh policemen were taught how to handle Kashmiri Hindu friends dict paving the way for the construc- Pictures of Mr Advani, flanked by court’s verdict should be accepted day stubble and soiled was striking. They bought explosives. Even some who too were keen to per- tion of a “magnificent temple for Mr Joshi and some other BJP leaders with an “open mind” by all communi- clothes, I interacted with us tea and, later, one of Kashmiris were there,” he form kar seva on D-Day. Lord Ram in Ayodhya.” during the Ratra Yatra were circulat- ties. DECCAN CHRONICLE 5 JUDGMENT DAY SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI

Has the top court done its job? It can be said the court has picked peace over jus- tice, and arguably, prag- matism over principles of fairness

Valay Singh

aced with an intractable dispute laden with People react after the Supreme Court verdict on Saturday. The judgment in the politically sensitive Ayodhya land dispute case is historic in more than one sense as it politics and religion, layered with history is perhaps for the first time in the 69-year history of the Supreme Court that a verdict was delivered on Saturday. — PTI Fand fiction, myth and propaganda, it has done what was widely surmised by many who have followed the dispute over the years. It can be said the court has picked peace over justice, and arguably pragmatism over principles of fairness and equity. Not many court verdicts are perfect and almost none that leaves every party satisfied. Given the significance of the Ayodhya issue to India’s recent past, portentous present and future Shah reviews security course as a multi-religious and richly diverse democracy, the Supreme Court had a rare oppor- tunity to stamp its authority as the protector of NSA Ajit Doval, home secretary Ajit Bhalla & IB chief Arvind Kumar also present justice, equity and rule of law. Has the court made good use of it? DC CORRESPONDENT Since 1855, when the issue first flared, over not NEW DELHI, NOV. 9 MEA briefs envoys the mosque but in fact, over the demolition of a Assam Muslims to donate `5L for Mandir mosque atop the nearby Hanumangarhi temple, Home minister Amit Shah on on Ayodhya verdict each chapter of this sordid saga has reflected our Saturday chaired a high level MANOJ ANAND ty of the indigenous Muslims country,” Mr Aowal, who is New Delhi: Top officials of the country’s evolution. It has also reflected the appli- meeting to review security GUWAHATI, NOV. 9 to country’s unity and to also senior BJP spokesperson, MEA, including foreign secre- cation of justice, initially by the British when across the country in wake of “cherished aspiration” of said. tary Vijay Gokhale, on suits asking for rights over the Ram Chabutra the Supreme Court verdict on In what has been seen as an Hindus to see the temple is The 21 organisations repre- Saturday briefed envoys of were dismissed by the Courts, and later in post- the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri attempt to strengthen commu- constructed in Ayodhya. sent Goria, Moria, Deshiya, certain influential countries, independence communally scarred free India, Masjid dispute. Mr Shah per- nal harmony, 21 organisations JSPA chairman, Syed Jalha, Maimal and Kachari including some of the P-5 when the local magistrate allegedly connived and sonally spoke to some of the representing indigenous Muminul Aowal said that all Muslims, whose ancestries nations and the Islamic world ensured that the mosque was locked and trans- chief ministers to asses the sit- Assamese Muslims have not the 21 organisations will raise converted to Islam from differ- over the verdict on the ferred to government custody once the Ram-Sita uation in their states, directing only described the verdict on the money and donate it once ent ethnic groups of the state. Ayodhya issue. Apart from idols were forcibly implanted by a band of sadhus them to put in place all security Ayodhya as historic but also the trust is formed. “We are On the other hand, All India foreign secretary Gokhale, the in 1949. At that time too, political considerations measures to ensure no unto- decided to donate `5 Lakh to happy that the protracted dis- United Democratic Front MEA’s secretary (east) Ms of the communal kind were the motivation but ward incident takes place. the trust that will oversee the pute has been resolved (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Vijay Thakur Singh and secre- the staunchly secular, India’s first Prime Minister National security advisor Ajit construction of the Ram through the historic judge- Ajmal said, “We respect the tary (West) Gitesh Sarma also Jawaharlal Nehru ensured that the new republic Doval, Union home secretary Mandir. ment of the Supreme Court. Supreme Court’s verdict on briefed various envoys sepa- was enthralled more by socialism than narrow Ajit Bhalla, Intelligence The organisations under the We will donate `5 lakh because the Babri masjid dispute. Our rately, sources said. It is sectarianism. However, as the promise of a new bureau chief Arvind Kumar banner Jonogusthiya we also want to be part of this appeal is that post-verdict, peo- understood that the briefings and equal India proved hollower with every pass- and some other senior security Somonnoy Parishad Asom historic decision that will fur- ple of Assam and across the were part of the practice of ing decade, and a new politics of identity and and intelligence officials were (JSPA) said that the decision ther strengthen the spirit of country keep peace and har- briefing foreign envoys about appeasement too root, the also present during the crucial was an expression of solidari- unity and harmony in the mony intact.” “important developments.” emerged gradually on to the national centrestage. meeting. A toxic culture of elitism, apathy and vote-bank Senior officials gave the home politics (of not just the religious kind) infected minister a detailed presenta- ing institutes would remain IN AYODHYA SPECIALLY, A tal, Delhi police had increased police issued prohibitory the body politic of the country by the mid 1980s tion of the security situation in closed till Monday. Home min- security across the city and orders against gathering of and the sudden death of Prime Minister Indira the country, particularly in istry had earlier dispatched MASSIVE SECURITY COR- stepped up patrolling in sensi- five or more persons till Gandhi inadvertently precipitated the rise of reli- Uttar Pradesh, as Ayodhya was more than 4,000 central para- DON WAS THROWN tive areas along with monitor- November 18. Rajasthan chief gion-based politics centred around the Babri considered to be a sensitive military personnel also to the AROUND THE TOWN WITH ing of the social media plat- minister Ashok Gehlot also masjid-Ram Janambhoomi issue. At least, even if area. Earlier, even Prime state. MORE THAN 60 COMPANIES forms. Delhi government had directed senior police officers Nehru couldn’t see the mosque restored back to Minister Narendra Modi and In Ayodhya specially, a mas- asked all private schools to to ensure law and order in the Muslims, he didn’t allow the ugly head of com- other senior political and reli- sive security cordon was OF PAC AND PARAMILITARY remain closed on Saturday. state. He asked the officers to munalism to rear its head in mainstream politics. gious leaders had requested thrown around the town with FORCES Officials said that social media make additional deployment in Consequently, even though justice was not done, people to maintain peace and more than 60 companies of PAC posts and WhatsApp messages sensitive areas. In the newly more injustice was put in abeyance. respect following the Supreme and paramilitary forces. that trigger hatred or violence created Union Territory of However, his grandson, Rajiv Gandhi who had to Court order. Vehicle checking was also any kind of violence. State would lead to severe punish- and Kashmir as well, overnight turn from an aviation pilot to Prime Security agencies across the intensified near the chief minister Yogi Adityanath ment, including jail terms. In prohibitory orders under Minister was neither as politically astute as his country had made elaborate Ramjanmabhoomi police sta- also reviewed law and order in adjoining Noida, the police said Section 144 of the CrPC were mother, nor ideologically committed as his grand- arrangements to even monitor tion, “karyashala” of Ram each district and appealed for that action could also be taken issued, which bans assembly of father. He was not even a politican like either. By the social media posts to Janmabhoomi Nyas and other peace. Home ministry on under the Gangsters Act and more than four people. Schools the time Rajiv was thrust into the job, Indian pol- ensure that no inflammatory parts of the town. Thursday had also issued an the National Security Act. The and colleges also remained itics was corrupted to the core and its govern- content was posted to trigger Security forces also deployed advisory to all states and UTs to local police also conducted a closed and all examinations ment reduced to a club of industrialists and polit- any violence. Security at all drones and CCTV cameras ensure adequate security flag march in sensitive areas of scheduled for November 9 have ical dynasts who were often less trustworthy in religious and other crowded used to monitor the situation. arrangements are made. The the state, including Noida. In been postponed. In Karnataka the public’s eye than even the government places with high foot fall was Temporary jails were set up in railway police too had can- and rest of too, the state government machinery they controlled. Unable to stand up to beefed up in Uttar Pradesh. different parts of Ayodhya and celled leaves of its personnel Maharashtra also, the police declared that all schools and first the Muslim clergy he negated a SC verdict The state government directed other sensitive areas to detain and stepped up vigil at 78 major remained on high alert. colleges will remain closed on through an Act of Parliament. The RSS backed that all educational and train- people in case they resorted to stations. In the national capi- In Mumbai especially, the November 9. and VHP-led Ram temple movement, which was just two years old then, In 1986, Rajiv Gandhi widely arranged the opening of the locks of the mosque but only Hindus were allowed to worship there. A few years later, his party, in a desperate SC says Akhara not ‘Rajiv blunders helped BJP rise’ attempt to return to power launched its campaign from Ayodhya where Rajiv promised he would ASHHAR KHAN first stone of the proposed tem- usher in Ram Rajya. During this time it was in NEW DELHI, NOV. 9 ple was placed. At this juncture, this context that courts too played a role that was Shebait of Ram Lalla Rajiv Gandhi riddled with trou- not above criticism, the admitting of the Ram Former Union home secretary, bles. His mishandling of the sit- Lalla Viraajman, the deity suit in 1989 was certain- DC CORRESPONDENT Akhara. “A ‘shebait’ is a per- Madhav Godbole, who quit after uation in Punjab, Kashmir and ly a decision that attracted criticism. What could NEW DELHI, NOV. 9 son who is appointed by tem- the demolition of Babri Mosque Sri had resulted into the have been resolved as a property dispute was ple authorities to serve the in 1992 was not far from the rise of terrorist activites in the allowed to fester till it became a chimera for plu- The Supreme Court on deity, maintain the property truth, when he described former country. To make matters worse ralism and secularism. The destruction of the Saturday said in its verdict in and manage it. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi as for him, V.P. Singh quit the Babri masjid by Karsevaks despite the presence of the Ram Janmabhoomi- The office of ‘shebait’ the “second most prominent kar Congress and started his own thousands of security forces and SC’s own moni- Babri Masjid title dispute comes with rights. A pujari sevak, after Nayar, the district party. Rajiv Gandhi thought the tors razed to the ground the already crumbling case that the Nirmohi gains no independent right magistrate of Faizabad, who Rajiv Gandhi pandering to the majority com- rule of law in the country. Akhara, a litigant in the case, despite having conducted the encouraged the clandestine munity could be the only way to All through the Ram temple movement, the pro- is not a “shebait” or devotee ceremonies for a long period placement of the Ram Lalla idol ern the Muslim personal laws. consoldiate his position. Toeing temple groups had asserted that matters of faith of the deity Ram Lalla. of time. Thus, the mere pres- in the Babri Masjid on Rajiv Gandhi’s “regressive” a Hindutva line, Rajiv Gandhi cannot be decided by courts. And on 6th A bench headed by Chief ence of pujaris does not vest December 22, 1949.” move upset the secular minded talked of a ‘Ram Rajya’ during December, the court’s orders were flouted with Justice Ranjan Gogoi said in them any right to be she- It was Rajiv Gandhi’s political Muslim leaders and one of the his election campaigns. the same impunity with which the three domes of the Akhara’s suit was barred baits”, said the bench and blunders of conceding to the prominent Muslim face in his The assurance of a “Ram the 16 th century mosque were pulled down. In the by limitation. The bench in ruled that “at its highest, demands of the fundamentalists Cabinet, Arif Mohammed Khan Rajya” could not save Rajiv subsequent decade and a half, India seemingly its order said the Akhara is these exhibits show that the led to the resurgence of the BJP quit in protest against the move. Gandhi, who lost the 1989 elec- turned its back to Ayodhya and fixated over eco- not a shebait of the deity of Nirmohis were present in and revival of the Ayodhya dis- This decision opened the can tions to V.P. Singh led nomic growth, corruption and misgovernance. Lord Ram and instead hand- and around the structure and pute, which rekindled scars of of worms. The Hindu funda- Opposition. However, his move The Allahabad high court verdict too had provid- ed over the entire 2.77 acre of assisted the pilgrims.” It does partition and eventually com- mentalists, including the BJP to open the locks benefitted the ed a compromise formula based on prioritising disputed area to Ram not, however, evidence any pleted the division between launched a scathing and relent- BJP, which stepped on the issue peace over justice, but failed to deliver on either. Janmabhoomi Nyas. The management over the idols Hindus and Muslims in the less attack on Rajiv Gandhi over and in 1989 the party tally rose In the last few years, ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants have Nirmohi Akhara, which was or the disputed site itself, country. the Sha Bano issue. Surprising from two to eighty instilled sadly been appropriated by criminals awarded one-third of the dis- said the bench. It was in 1985, Rajiv Gandhi many, Rajiv Gandhi in his so- seats. Then came L.K. Advani’s who wilfully terrorise Muslims and dalits. puted land by the Allahabad The Akhara welcomed the reeling under various contro- called balancing act, ordered the repeated rath yatras for the con- The verdict been delivered on Barawafat, the high court in 2010, had also apex court decision of giving versies, including the Bofors locks on the Ram Janam struction of the Ram Mandir day celebrated by Muslims to mark the birthday made a claim to the entire it an “adequate representa- scam. In a bid to get out of the Bhoomi-Babri Masjid in and the consistent rise of the of Prophet Mohammad. In view of the sensitive disputed land stating that tion in the trust”. “Nirmohi crisis, Rajiv began his mistakes Ayodhya to be removed. Until BJP. If Rajiv Gandhi ushered in nature of the case, the administration has they were the original Akhara is grateful that of tinkering with India’s socio- then, a priest had been permit- the rise of the BJP, the former imposed Section 144 and banned processions and “pujaris” who worshipped Supreme Court has recog- religious fabric. ted to perform once a year Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha celebrations of any kind and by any community. Lord Ram at the temple at his nised our fight,” said a office The first was to overturn the for the idols installed there in Rao consolidate the Hindutva And although Muslims across the spectrum have birthplace. bearer of Nirmohi Akhara. Supreme Court verdict in the 1949. This step catalysed the rise brigade with inaction during welcomed the verdict, there is a lingering feeling However, the bench unani- “Central government shall Sha Bano case on the triple talaq of the right wing politics in the demolition of the Babri among some once again the rule of law has been mously ruled that possession form in three to four months issue. This was an attempt to India. And BJP, which that time Masjid by the Hindu fundamen- selectively applied to them. This is an impression of Ayodhya’s contested prop- a scheme for setting up of a appease the Muslim fundamen- had only two MPs, rose like a talists in 1992. After the demoli- that the Supreme Court should do well to correct erty will vest in a trust to be trust. They shall make neces- talists and the Muslim Personal Phoenix. tion, the Central government in the future course by closely monitoring the formed by the central govern- sary arrangements for the law Board. Rajiv Gandhi enact- In 1989, Rajiv Gandhi went went ahead and dismissed the implementation of its landmark verdict. Only ment and also directed that management of trust and ed a law abolishing the alimony ahead with negotiations with Kalyan Singh led BJP govern- then it would have finished the job. representation in the trust construction of the temple,” provision in conformity with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and ment in Uttar Pradesh and vir- The writer is the author of Ayodhya: City of may be given to Nirmohi CJI Ranjan Gogoi said. the Sharia that principally gov- allowed Shilanayas, when the tually made him a martyr. Faith, City of Discord DECCAN CHRONICLE 6 JUDGMENT DAY SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI

No untoward incidents Respect verdict, Chennai, Nov 9: The state remained peaceful, sans untoward incidents on Saturday. say TN parties The police made elaborate security G.SRINIVASAN I DC arrangements and posted CHENNAI, NOV. 9 ‘Ours is peaceful state’ adequate armed personnel in vulnerable and sensitive The reaction of various Chief Minister Edapadi locations, including places political party leaders in K.Palaniswami said that of worship. Key to Ayodhya Tamil Nadu is a installations and major verdict “was cautious and peaceful state. People infrastructures like the guarded”. should prove this by over a century old Pamban However all of them rail bridge in appealed to people to maintaining religious Ramanathapuram district respect and accept the harmony and setting an witnessed deployment of a verdict. example to the posse of police personnel. DMK president whole country. He also Patrolling was stepped up, M.K.Stalin appealed to said “Tamil Nadu vehicle checking intensi- people of all sections to government has been Police stand guard at Ice House mosque ahead of the verdict. —DC fied and riot control vehi- take the verdict with maintaining law cles stationed at vantage equanimity and move and order well. locations. Passengers were forward with religious People live in TENDERS / NOTICES frisked and baggage harmony. “The Supreme brotherhood screened at railway sta- Court found a cutting across caste, Chief Minister Edapadi tions, including the solution to a religious differences”. Central Railway Station long-standing issue on K.Palaniswami here. Also, sniffer dogs Saturday. As the minority people. were pressed into service constitution bench has Humanism cutting across built demolishing the for surveillance and moni- passed the order, people religions is the hallmark temple. Violators of law toring. Security was beefed should not show and essence of our soil. have got the land,” up in areas, including the their hatred or liking So we should not harm Thirumavalavan said. He Big mosque point at towards it but show equa- religious harmony. also said that when Triplicance here ahead of nimity and move forward Thol.Thirumavalavan, all democratic institu- the verdict and it contin- with harmony. They founder of Viduthalai tions are in danger, people ued to be on. should not harm the plu- Chiruthaigal Katchi, had faith only in the judi- In and nearby ralistic nature of the expressed shock over the ciary. But the verdict has Tirupur, perceived as com- country,” Stalin said. verdict and said “it shattered this also. We munallysensitive,over Tamil Nadu Congress appears that the verdict have to be patient till a 2,800 personnel from local Committee president has not been given based review petition is filed and Central Armed Police K.S.Alagiri said, “in the on the law but as a com- and its outcome known” Forces were deployed for a name of God each of us promise formula to pre- he said. three-tier security. —PTI worship, we must accept vent law and order situa- Vedhantham, former the Ayodhya verdict in tion in the country. international working Ramadoss reacts full and without reserva- “The judges have said president of VHP, wel- tion”. that placing Rama idol in comed the verdict. The PMK founder S. Ramadoss MDMK general secre- Masjid in 1949 and later verdict has helped build- said the verdict was not a tary Vaiko said that our razing down it in 1992 ing a magnificent Rama victory or defeat for any history has been that of were in violation of law. temple at Ayodhya, he side, adding it should by no majority protecting But Masjid had not been said. means create a rift between Hindus and Muslims, whom he indicat- ed, were like brothers. He urged the Centre to consti- tute on time a trust for the construction of a Ram temple as directed by the Supreme Court and also takes steps to provide five acres of land to Muslims to build a mosque. —PTI TWITTERATI “The supreme court judgement on #AYODHYAVERDICT shows how all of us can coexist peacefully. This is the beauty of our great country, and I urge everyone to rejoice in the fact that we define ‘Unity in diversity’: #KanganaRanaut.” Kangana Ranaut, Indian film actress, Director SC bench has unanimously delivered the best possible verdict under the circumstances. Sensitive and balanced. Legal end to 70 yr RamMandir- BabriMasjid dispute.#MandirwahiBaneg a , masjid awarded new spot in Ayodhya. #AyodhyaVerdict #AyodhyaJudgment Kasturi Shankar, South Indian film actress All religions teach us love. Don't let humanity to fall in the politics of success or failure, let's nurture love. Hail unity. . #AYODHYAVERDICT #AyodhyaHearing #hindumuslimbhaibhai #BabriMasjid #AyodhyaJudgment. Aari, South Indian film actor DECCAN CHRONICLE 7 JUDGMENT DAY SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI Finally, deja vu moment Across many Muslim dominated localities in the twin towns, most confined themselves to their homes while groups of people were seen engaged in discussions. That they were dejected was something no one could have missed.

VIKRAM SHARMA ment on the saffron party’s elec- AYODHYA, NOV. 9 tion manifesto which promises to construct a ram mandir at Gently running his fingers ayodhya. through his long white silky Maulana Abdul Rashadi beard, Maulvi saab, as he is Madni, who runs a Madrasa in The wait is getting over fondly known, sat in one corner Azamgarh, says that the of the deserted street gazing at Muslim community was deeply Karsevaks resting on partially carved stone slabs to be used as pillars of the proposed Ram temple near Babri Masjid. —Archive of Sondeep Shankar the buntings erected for Milad hurt when the Babri masjid was Un Nabi in the Muslim- domi- razed and says he is equally nated Bhadarsa locality. hurt now. “All Muslims would Ask him about the Ayodhya have become BJP supporters verdict that has come on had the verdict come in their Saturday, and the 74-year old favour. Now, it is difficult to smiles as he says that the judg- trust the Supreme Court,” he Why not a ment was on expected lines. says. We respect the judiciary and “Let’s not act as if we’ll not It was back in 2012 that some know what the verdict would be BJP and VHP leaders had like. We all had anticipated that. coined the slogan “UP mein museum at First it was triple talaq, then banega Gujarat, Faizabad se scrapping of Article 370 from hogi shuruvaat” — and many its verdicts: Muslim League Kashmir and now this (Ayodhya say that this is coming true now. verdict). Not many will like to Among many muslims Deccan Ayodhya? say it openly but the designs of Chronicle randomly spoke to, some powerful people is getting almost all of them said they had IUML leaders reminded the workers on the role the party clear to us now,” he says. anticipated the judgment and it Reminded that it did not surprise played in the past to ensure peace in society during tough As a social science student, was the court’s ver- them one bit. dict and the govern- “You heard TV teacher I would say what ment had nothing WE ARE NOT channels say even times including when Babri Masjid was demolished to do with today’s AGAINST ANY COM- Muslims want a was really needed there is a judgment, Maulvi MUNITY. BUT SINCE temple to be con- saab laughs it off, MORNING, HAVE YOU structed at the site DC CORRESPONDENT ensure peace in society during The calm and composure of the making clear his and they want an KOZHIKODE, NOV 9 such times of communal tension. leaders notwithstanding, a major modern research institute disagreement. NOT SEEN HINDU end to the dispute. Even at the times when the Babri section of the party leaders and Minutes after the COMMUNITY CREDIT- Just because some The Indian Union Muslim League Masjid was demolished, the state workers are unhappy with the ver- or a museum instead. Supreme Court ING MODI GOVERN- Muslims who call (IUML), the prominent political remained without any communal dict but they refused to express read out the his- MENT FOR THE VER- themselves our party representing Muslims based violence due to the active role of them publicly as there was a strict toric judgment in leaders are in the in , said that it will respect IUML, the leaders pointed out. order from leadership not to pre- RAJAN GURUKKAL favour of Ram DICT ? EVEN TV payrolls of the the verdict in the IUML national secretary P.K. cipitate matter, whatever the ver- mandir, Muslims CHANNELS WILL DO BJP, it does not Ramjanambhumi-Babri Masjid Kunhalikutty, MP, said IUML has dict is. Any untoward incident in s a student of history, the verdict of across the twin IT SOON, SAID ARIF mean that all of us dispute though the party was not its origin in the freedom struggle the state would send wrong mes- the Supreme Court on Ayodhya did towns, though MUHAMMED. are of the same fully satisfied with it. and hence the nation is very much sage across the nation, inviting Anot make me happy or gave me remained calm, felt opinion. Faith is The party, which has been cred- important. "We respect the judici- shame for the community as well peace. However, this is a verdict given by that the BJP had as important a ited with ensuring peace during ary and will come out with a con- as state, igniting the evil spirits the top court of the country and as a citi- lost its last chance matter for us as it the turbulent days in the after- sidered stand after due delibera- within, it was pointed out. zen, I am bound to accept by it. However, as a social sci- of winning the confidence of is for Hindus,” says Abdul math of the demolition of the tions," he added. On a query on IUML national organising secre- ence student, teacher and a person who wanted to the the community. Mateen, a small time trader in Babri Masjid in 1992, was however the move of Muslim Personal Law tary E.T. Muhammed Basheer, quality of the higher education sector in our country go What was even more disturb- Sahabgunj. non-committal on the future Board to approach apex court for a MP, told DC that it is a fact that the up, I feel that this verdict is pushing us backward. ing for them was that the verdict Across Muslim dominated course of action it will take. Most review of the verdict, Mr community is not entirely happy The court decided on this verdict-of allotting the dis- came on a day when the Muslim areas, a pall of gloom has leaders evaded questions on the Kunhalikutty said it is too early to with the verdict. "But as the citi- puted site for the construction of a Ram temple-keeping community was looking for- descended soon after the ver- merit of the verdict, saying that it comment on decision of board. zens of the nation, we respect the in mind one section of people and their beliefs. A small ward to celebrate Milad un Nabi dict. Green flags, banners and is too early to give a statement as "The IUML had passed a resolu- judiciary and also its verdict on town such as Ayodhya can do without a grand temple; — the birthday of prophet buntings were everywhere but they are yet to access the verdict tion in as early in 1989 to accept the prolonged dispute," Mr but what was really needed was a modern research Mohammed. Due to security there were no celebrations. document. The party has con- the verdict of the apex court in Basheer said. "We still lay our institute or a museum instead. This is a period when we concerns, the Faizabad district “Leave alone the verdict, we vened a special meeting of its the dispute," he pointed out. hopes on the judiciary and will have been affected by environmental issues and climate administration has banned all are now not allowed to celebrate high-power committee at "Whatever its legal impact, the design our future strategy over change. An institution devoted to studying them would kinds of processions and gath- the most important event in Panakkad, Malappuram on party would abide by our earlier the issue after the meeting of lead- have been in order. erings including the Milad un Muslim calendar. We definitely Monday to discuss the verdict in decision." ers to be held soon," he added. The Ayodhya issue started as a title dispute over 2.77 Nabi “juloos” or procession. did not see this coming,” said detail. acres. It was only later that political, historical and “We are not against any com- Abdul Subhan of Rikabgunj. In an interaction with reporters socio-religious debates become the focal point of the dis- munity. But since morning, Across many Muslim domi- at Malappuram, IUML supremo The Indian union Muslim League had pute; political and religious angles were added to give have you not seen Hindu com- nated localities in the twin Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab weight to the argument. munity crediting Modi govern- towns, most confined them- Thangal said that the party passed a resolution in as early in 1989 Such issues cannot be settled by considering historic ment for the verdict ? Even TV selves to their homes while respects the verdict. "We shall be to accept the verdict of the apex evidence alone. It is not prudent to decide on ownership channels will do it soon. If we groups of people were seen able to comment more only after a court in the Ramjanambhumi-Babri Masjid of a plot of land with information on one period of the blame Modi government for it engaged in discussions. That proper evaluation," the Thangal dispute. Whatever its legal impact, the party history. (verdict not coming in our they were dejected was some- said. He urged party workers as There are Buddhist and Jain links to Ayodhya. favour) we are wrong, right ?” thing no one could have missed. well as public to approach the ver- will abide by our earlier decision. According to the Jain tradition, five tirthankaras were asks Arif Muhammed, a col- By evening, several locals cele- dict with composure. born at Ayodhya, including Rishabhanatha, Ajitanatha, lege-goer and resident of brated by lighting diyas. Some IUML leaders also reminded the — P.K. KUNHALIKUTTY, MP Abhinandananatha, Sumatinatha and Anantanatha. It Benigunj. burst crackers. It was like workers on the role of the party IUML national general secretary has been associated with Kosala kingdom, later to All of them base their argu- Diwali. played in the past in the nation to Maurya rule. It was also an important trade centre asso- ciated with various Sarthavaha communities. It has also been under sultanate and the Mogul rule later. The issues that happened after 1992 were vital as they have several socio-political dimensions. But now that we have an order of the apex court on our hand, it is imperative that all sections of the people react to it in a Let’s count the holes in the verdict later mature way. Most of the people in the country believe in friendship and mutual respect. This was true even when some reacted in an impulsive way. M.A. BABY stated this in our statement. who is systematically exposing cides, economic recession, It is a sensitive matter. At this THE JUDGMENT SPEAKS and opposing communal forces. retrenchments, layoffs, unemploy- (The writer is vice-chairman, Kerala State Higher he CPM would point of time we don't want to state ABOUT THE CRIMINAL VIOLA- But unfortunately the Congress ment, atrocities against women Education Council) (As told to Sabloo Thomas) undertake an anything which could create TION OF BABRI MASJID, does not have the courage to politi- and livelihood issues are problems Telaborate provocation. The issue which has THOUGH NOT IN THE SAME cally, ideologically and organisa- which need to be taken up. breakdown of the been used for fanning up commu- TERM. IT SAID THE DEMOLI- tionally face communalism. Only by doing so can you develop Supreme Court ver- nal passions by various forces for There are wide areas where the and evolve a mighty mass move- dict in due course. We have vari- long periods had to be settled at TION OF THE MASJID WAS A Left is almost non-existent and the ment for secularism, societal prob- Time everyone ous ideas about the verdict and some point in a non-controversial VIOLATION OF LAW. SO THE Congress is the only opposition. lems and livelihood issues of vari- they have been presented in a cap- manner. Such a dispute cannot be LAW SHOULD TAKE ACTION But the Congress is not discharg- ous sections and that has to be the sule form in the communique settled fully to the satisfaction of AGAINST THE CULPRITS. THAT ing the role of the opposition. This important pillar on which the fight worked for peace issued by politburo on Saturday. everyone. But still, it should be set- is also helping the BJP and RSS to against communalism can be For example, there is a reference tled in a manner where nobody HAS NOT BEEN DONE. be more bold and aggressive. The developed. K.T. JALEEL that certain premises in the ver- would feel defeated or triumphant. Left will never be found wanting in Long march of farmers from dict are questionable. This means We have our reservations in say- fighting the communal forces to Mumbai and farmers aith and places of worship are we have our reservations or ques- ing that this is a judicious deci- The judiciary is found wanting politically, ideologically and struggle in Rajasthan and Madhya not meant to destroy the peace tions about some of the aspects of sion. But still there has to be an even in the case of all those who organisationally. We are doing it in Pradesh have been organised Fof mankind; instead, they are the judgment. end to this litigation. have criminally destroyed a place Kerala. under the red flag. More such meant to forge strong friendship The judgment speaks about the The Sangh Parivar may go for- of historical importance. They The Left will continue to play its movements have to be built. between them. criminal violation of Babri ward in a triumphant mood but it have not pronounced the verdict role within its limitations and Today we may have different crit- I wish the judgment of the Supreme Court on the Masjid, though not in the same is for the democratic and secular and settled the issue yet. So there influence in taking up secular ical observations about the ver- Babri Masjid case will settle all the disputes forev- term. It said the demolition of the forces to see they are prevented are many grey areas where sys- positions and fighting communal dict. But we have to keep our cool er. Let's all accept the final verdict in the case. Let's Masjid was a violation of law. So from doing that. It is a big task temic failure was evident in pro- forces. Whether the Left will devel- and patience. We have to respond also hope that the dispute over Babri Masjid is the the law should take proper action before them. We have to painstak- tecting democracy and secularism. op as a leading force is something to the situation in a responsible first and the last one over the ownership of various against the culprits. That legal ingly spread the message among The Indian political, social and society also has to respond to. We and restrained manner and that is places of worship in our country. action is not completed and the the masses. It is not an easy task, cultural communities will have to cannot assume the leadership posi- very important. Preserve the unity I wish the Hindu and Muslim communities culprits have not been meted out but we will have to take it up. stand up and discharge their tion on our own. so that the struggle for social would work for lasting peace by strengthening the punishment. The RSS is notorious for double responsibility to protect the secu- We have taken up positions about change and unity can be strength- their faith in the country's judicial system. My The verdict has referred to the speak. They don't stick to what lar and democratic values as following a mass line and connect- ened in the coming days. prayers are for that. Places of Religious Worship Act, they say. That they refuse to give a enshrined in the constitution. ing with marginalised sections 1991. There cannot be a reopening categorical reply on the issue of The only office that the commu- such as tribals, dalits, minorities (M.A. Baby is member of the (Dr K.T. Jaleel is minister for higher education, of any other place of worship on Kashi and Mathura shows they are nal forces attacked in Delhi was and women. Problems such as CPM politburo) minority welfare and waqf, Kerala) similar lines in future. We have going to take up other matters. the CPM headquarters. They know agriculture distress, farmer sui- (As told to Gilvester Assary) DECCAN CHRONICLE 8 JUDGMENT DAY SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI

Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief We welcome this decision of Supreme Court. This case was going on for decades and it has reached the right conclusion. This should not be seen as a win or loss. We also welcome everyone’s efforts to maintain peace and harmony in society. #AYODHYAVERDICT Narendra Modi, Prime Minister All India Muslim Personal Law Board It is a day of unity (jode ka din, referring to the @AIMPLB_Official opening of Kartarpur corridor, a historic event which opened access to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib The judgment is against our expectations. Our in for Indian Sikh devotees). The way legal committee will review the judgment. We each section of the society welcomed the verdict have sincerely tried to fulfill our responsibility to reflects India’s ancient traditions of amity restore the demolished #BabriMasjid Sri Sri Ravi Shankar @SriSri M. Venkaiah Naidu @VPSecretariat I wholeheartedly welcome the his- Further to today’s unanimous ver- toric judgment of the Hon. Supreme dict by 5-Judge bench of Supreme Court. This has brought joy and Court on Ayodhya issue, let’s leave relief to people of both communi- the past behind and move towards ties from a long-standing dispute. building an India of peace, harmony Rajinikanth @rajinikanth Rajnath Singh @rajnathsingh Members of all faiths should strive The Judgement will strengthen for the welfare of the country and India’s social fabric. I urge every- its growth without any religious one to take the verdict with equa- differences nimity and magnanimity. I appeal to the people to maintain peace Anand Mahindra @anandmahindra Rahul Gandhi @RahulGandhi 5 men. A decision that 1.3bn people Supreme Court has given its were awaiting. What extraordinary verdict. With the highest regard for courage it required to be on this the Court and the judgment, every bench one of us must maintain communal amity and peace Minhaz Merchant @MinhazMerchant H.D. Deve Gowda @H_D_Devegowda Babri Action Panel’s Zafaryab Jilani says Muslims dissatisfied with #AYODHYAVERDICT, likely to It is a balancing decision, which file review petition. With 5-judge SC judgement I welcome... What happened in being unanimous that could prove infructuous the past, so that is a big issue. So I do not want to go to the past Barkha Dutt @BDUTT This is significant. Supreme Court Sharad Pawar @PawarSpeaks declaring itself unable to be arbiter of established Faith The decision will help address a serious concern before the country. In memoriam #AYODHYAVERDICT The judiciary has talked about pro- tecting interests of all the sections Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti applies tilak on a photo of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader late Ashok Singhal at the VHP of the society. It is a good thing office in New Delhi on Saturday. — PTI Kanchan Gupta @KanchanGupta Among editors who refused to toe the line of least Mayawati @Mayawati resistance and stood by their journalists: Sunanda K Datta-Ray, Vinod Mehta, Girilal Jain, Arun While respecting the decision by Shourie and @MadhuTrehan On this day, grati- the SC as per the Constitution of tude to them. #AyodhyaJudgment Param Pujya Baba Saheb, all future action should only be taken in an Jayanta Ghosal @jayanta_ghosal1 amicable atmosphere Keep calm Previous Prime Ministers were happy to keep #RamMandir in cold storage. @narendramodi had Asaduddin Owaisi @asadowaisi the courage and acumen to take the issue head I endorse the AIMPLB’s stand. Our on and steer it to conclusion despite attempts of fight was for justice and legal the opposition to scuttle the legal process rights. We don’t need 5-acre land as a charity. There cannot be any com- Srinivas B.V. @srinivasiyc promise over a mosque and tweet As our founding fathers accepted the Constitution as the guiding light of India, we honour the Uddhav Thackeray @uddhavthacker- judgement of Supreme Court on the ay The offline calm maintained by restrained citizens was #AyodhyaVerdict This is red-letter day in the coun- try’s history. I remember Bal palpable on Twitter too. The tone in which most Indians Thackeray, Ashok Singhal on this Priyanka Chaturvedi @priyankac19 day Gratitude. Hon Supreme Court - spoke was refreshingly delightful. Hon CJI Ranjan Gogoi. - Justice S A M.K. Stalin @mkstalin Bobde. - Justice D Y Chandrachud. - Justice S Abdul Nazeer. - Justice All sections should accept (the ver- SRIRAM KARRI | DC A juvenile tweet smacking banter characteristic of ne yeh nahi kaha hai ki HYDERABAD, NOV. 9 of bravado, communally social media exchanges. Babri Masjid mein namaaz Ashok Bhushan dict) and I firmly believe it will be instigating in intent, and The sadness and sense of padhoge toh he tumhari taken forward in a way upholding n many a day superficially celebratory in dejection reflected in anoth- namaz qabool hogi. communal harmony, and without in the past tone was put down quickly, er popular #BabriMasjid Political agenda mat banao. harming the country’s plurality marked as red- with replies like ‘the only completed the circle of ris- #PeaceAndLove Baato,” We welcome the verdict and we respect it. With letter in winner is Indian democra- ing the occasion. Many another user, Zishan Alam this judgment, the dispute between Hindus and Manohar Lal Khattar @mlkhattar Independent cy, and all Indians,’ being complaints of being disap- @zishanalam2212, said, Muslims has come to an end. I appeal to all not to India’s histo- liked and re-tweeted most. pointed, of having a feeling “We absolutely accept this indulge in anything which will ignite passions The verdict given by the Supreme ry,O Indians have shamed it; On #AyodhyaJudgment, a of being let down, or of judgement because we have Court on Ayodhya issue is historic. with their words, and similar trending thread, even having felt anger were trust in Indian Constitution This verdict will help further actions, individually and also in the top three, the measured. Far from any and Supreme Court.” — IQBAL ANSARI, one of the litigants strengthen the country’s social collectively. On November mood was cautious, guard- potential disrespect for Respect, considerate and fabric 9, on a medium that often is ed, and respectful. People judiciary, there was a moderate views dominated Truth never gets defeated and the Supreme an exemplar of level of congratulated the judiciary, regard for the process, if the Twitter discourse, but Court’s verdict proved that. The construction of hatred citizens spew on alone. ‘Oh, my god. Such a not outcome. Many not completely missing the Ram Mandir will begin soon. It is like Deepavali and it Subramanian Swamy @Swamy39 each other over political detailed, long judgment – expressed their sense of usual calumniating and is victory of the entire country Only when Lord Rama wanted the differences, Indians, large- what effort it takes. Respect hope in India, its democra- contumelious digs, and tra- — NRITYA GOPAL DAS, president, Ram Janmabhoomi ducing retorts. It was a green light for re-building the tem- ly, made India feel proud. five judges, heroes.’ cy, and its secular charac- The offline calm main- The two haghtags I sus- teristic. mature discourse to a large We welcome the Supreme Court verdict. We are ple is being given. Namo Govt must tained by restrained citi- pected could be senseless, The most significant extent, and the exception immediately announce Bharat zens was palpable on vituperative and acidic, exception, and a notewor- was ignored by people more committed to maintaining peace and unity across Ratna for Ashok Singhal Twitter too, where numero #RamMandir and thy discordant note, often than not. the state. Everyone should support unity and amity in uno amongst the largest #JaiShriRam too remained revolved around the com- There were obvious excep- the country Tejasvi Surya @Tejasvi_Surya trending hashtags was a largely humane, empathet- ments of MIM chief, tions, but the tone and style — YOGI ADITYANATH, UP Chief Minister secular, wilfully detached ic and reasonable. Not too Asaduddin Owaisi. Several in which most Indians, by A civilizational wound is now and objective by choice many liked or shared pic- users expressed their dis- and large, spoke and healed. 490+ years of struggle has coinage was #AYOD- tures or videos of ostenta- agreement with his views, behaved, with such a deco- We are dissatisfied with certain findings of the finally ended in victory. Let’s bow HYAVERDICT (which tious celebrations, nor did again with respect. While rous becoming manner, Supreme Court. We respect the verdict and down to all the Ram bhakts who crossed 709K tweets by 10 those who felt a surge of joy Wasim Khan @wazkhaz30 expressing such hope for respectfully disagree with certain aspects of he verdict. relentlessly fought for this pm). The greatest senti- unleash it in the usual ugly said, “Owaisi sahib, Allah the future, was refreshingly We will study the judgment and may seek a review ment was a sane stance, so delightful. alien of Twitter throughout Maybe, we have already — ZAFARYAB GILANI, secretary, AIMPLB Jagan Mohan Reddy @ysjagan the year, of welcoming the A JUVENILE TWEET SMACKING OF BRAVADO, taken our first step towards The ruling on Ayodhya has been verdict and requesting all COMMUNALLY INSTIGATING IN INTENT, AND healing, reconciliation, and Satya ki vijay hai. Isko Jeet ya haar ke roop mein delivered after all parties have citizens to remain calm. appreciating a fellow citi- nahin dekhna chahiye. Court ne satya ko azad SUPERFICIALLY CELEBRATORY IN TONE WAS PUT zen who disagrees. Maybe, agreed to abide by the verdict. Any attempt to put up any kiya hai. No juloos and no naara showy celebration was put DOWN QUICKLY, WITH REPLIES LIKE ‘THE ONLY we have taken a first step in I urge everyone to abstain from down respectfully, but WINNER IS INDIAN DEMOCRACY’ trying to be a better nation. — SHARAD SHARMA, VHP spokesperson, who played a making provocative statements firmly. Hopefully not! key role in ram mandir movement

N. Chandrababu Naidu @ncbn The unanimous decision taken by Chetan Bhagat@chetan_bhagat Huma Qureshi @humasqureshi Farhan Akhtar@FarOutAkhtar Taapsee Pannu @taapsee Madhur Bhandarkar@ the panel of esteemed judges must imbhandarkar be respected. I request all to main- Thank you to the entire My dear Indians, Humble request to all con- #AYODHYAVERDICT tain peace and harmony Muslim community for please respect cerned, please respect hail Supreme Court! Welcome the fair #AyodhyaVerdict your grace and gen- the Supreme the Supreme Court ver- Let the needful be verdict over the erosity. Thank you to Court verdict on dict on #AyodhyaCase done. Now moving #AyodhyaCase by the Hindus for patience. #AyodhyaCase today. Accept it with towards working on Hon. Supreme Court. Pawan Kalyan @PawanKalyan India remains intact, as today. We all need grace if it goes for you issues that will Finally the long pend- The healing and historical judge- does the birth- to heal together or against you. Our help our ing issue will be ment by Supreme Court on ‘Ram place of and move on from country needs to nation resolved now Janmabhoomi’ reflects the distilled Ram. Jai this as one move on from become the wisdom of Indian Judiciary Shri Ram nation this as one BEST place people to LIVE in DECCAN CHRONICLE 9 JUDGMENT DAY SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI Babri Masjid dispute: A brief recall The demolition propelled the BJP to electoral significance. In 1996, the BJP tasted political power at the Centre for the first time. Ram Puniyani

ith the Supreme Court pronouncing a unani- mous judgment, allotting the disputed Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi land to the Hindus, one long chapter of recent political imbroglio came to a halt on Saturday. Most of the concerned organisations, in a welcome move,W have asked the communities to keep calm. A brief recap of the dispute is necessary in order to under- stand how the Babri Masjid issue turned controversial and

—RAJESH WARADKAR what was the political fallout of the demolition. The first Mughal emperor Babar’s trusted general Mir Baqi built the Masjid in 1528. There was no dispute over it till 1855, when a clash took place between Bairagis and Muslims on the issue of Chabutara (raised platform) outside the Masjid. The matter never raised its ugly head during the freedom struggle, when the nation came together to fight against colonial forces. After Independence, the issue came to the fore on the night of Babri razed, Sena rose December 22-23, 1949, when some elements forcibly broke the locks of the Masjid and installed Ram Lalla idols inside it. After the idols were illegally installed, fearing future trou- The Shiv Sena came to power in Maharashtra in 1995 riding on the public sentiments foment- ble, the then Prime Minster Jawaharlal Nehru wrote to G.B. Pant, erstwhile chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, to get the idols vacated. However, the local district collector, K.K. ed by communal riots in 1992-93. Balasaheb Thackeray was “proud” of Babri demolition. Nayyar, did not comply. In the 1980s, after the Shah Bano judgment was reversed by BHAGWAN PARAB demanded that a temple should the Parliament, the Centre decided to open the locks of the MUMBAI, NOV. 9 be constructed at the disputed Masjid. Buoyed by the move, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) site in Ayodhya. He had also SENA’S ROLE IN RAM MANDIR ISSUE took up the campaign of constructing a grand Ram Temple at A jubiliant Shiv Sena on urged the BJP-led Union gov- the site, claiming that Lord Ram was precisely born where the Saturday welcomed the ernment to introduce a law to After Babri Masjid’s demo- Current Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray kept Masjid stood. Supreme Court’s verdict, ensure construction of a grand The Sangh Parivar popularised the notion that Babri Masjid which cleared the way for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. lition, late Shiv Sena chief pressurising its ally BJP for the construction was a symbol of ‘foreign rule’ and Muslim atrocities. That party’s long-standing demand The Shiv Sena has used Ram Bal Thackeray claimed that of Ram Mandir. On Friday Uddhav said BJP- there was a temple at the spot and it was a part of the com- for a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Mandir issue in the past to cor- his organisation had played led Union government cannot take “credit” munal historiography introduced by the British. A.F. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray ner its long-time ally BJP. a key role in the bringing for the Supreme Court's much-awaited Beevridge, a British officer, while translating Babar’s mem- hailed the Supreme Court Mr Thackeray’s Ayodhya visit oirs had put a footnote that there may have been a temple on judgement and said that the in November last year was also down of the mosque. Ayodhya verdict. which the mosque was built. day would be written in golden seen as part of his efforts to put The campaign turned political in the late 80s, when the BJP words in Indian history. pressure on BJP as the party took over from the VHP. The party, currently engaged In June this For the January 1993 The Commission also stated Then BJP president L.K. in a bitter power struggle with THE UDDHAV THACKERAY- year, Uddhav riots, Srikrishna that by the time the Shiv Sena IN THE 1980s, AFTER THE Advani began a Rath Yatra the BJP, even hinted that it was Thackeray went Commission report realised that enough had been SHAH BANO JUDGMENT WAS from Somnath to Ayodhya. ready to put its ambition of LED PARTY, CURRENTLY The Rath Yatra was fol- ENGAGED IN A BITTER to UP and blamed Bal Thackeray done by way of “retaliation”, REVERSED BY THE forming the government in PARLIAMENT, THE ERST- lowed by communal vio- Maharashtra on backburner POWER STRUGGLE WITH offered prayer and Sena of taking the the violence and rioting was lence across the country. for the sake of constructing a THE BJP IN THE STATE, EVEN at Ram Lalla lead in organising beyond the control of its lead- WHILE CONGRESS GOVERN- Mr Advani was arrested in Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. HINTED THAT IT WAS READY temple in attacks on Muslims ers, who had to issue an MENT LED BY RAJIV GANDHI Bihar as per the orders of Senior Sena leader Sanjay the then chief minister TO PUT ITS AMBITION OF Ayodhya. and their properties. appeal to put an end to it. DECIDED TO OPEN THE LOCKS Raut, in a tweet, said, “Pehle OF THE MASJID. Lalu Yadav. Yet, many were Mandir Phir Sarkar!! Ayodhya FORMING THE GOVERNMENT able to reach the Masjid. To mein Mandir, Maharashtra IN MAHARASHTRA ON BACK- prevent any damage to the mein Sarkar... Jai ShriRam.” BURNER FOR THE SAKE OF movement was a big agitation. parts of the state after the as outside of it. structure, erstwhile Uttar While emphasising the Some people are not with us Babri Masjid demolition, fur- “The contribution of Pradesh CM Mulayam Singh Yadav ordered the police to fire at importance of the long-pend- CONSTRUCTING A RAM now. Some have lost their lives ther ascertained Sena’s image Balasaheb in the Ram the mob. ing issue to his party, Mr MANDIR AT AYODHYA. in the agitation. I salute them as a hardline Hindu nationalist Janmabhoomi movement is After the then PM V.P. Singh announced the implementation Thackeray announced that he “PEHLE MANDIR PHIR all.” Uttar Pradesh and Centre. party in the country. The party immense,” said Shiv Sena MP of the Mandal Commission recommendations, the movement would visit Ayodhya on SARKAR!!... JAI SHRIRAM,” ation. I salute them all.” also faced allegations of Arvind Sawant, who is also the got a new lease of life. November 24 to offer his The Shiv Sena ows its elec- orchestrating the violence dur- Union minister of heavy indus- The Sangh Parivar decided to perform ‘Kar Seva’ on prayers. TWEETED SANJAY RAUT. toral success in Maharashtra ing the riots. tries and a Member of December 6, 1992. The then UP CM Kalyan Singh had given a “I had visited Ayodhya on to the Ram Mandir issue. The However, the Ram Mandir Parliament from Mumbai written undertaking to protect the Masjid. However, with November 24 last year and party came into nationa lime- issue also benefited the Shiv South. nearly three lakh Kar Sevaks in Ayodhya on the fateful day, the offered prayers. I also partici- had failed to resolve the issue light in the nineties when its Sena immensely, as it propelled “When no one was willing to security forces withdrew from the site. The Masjid was demol- pated in ‘aarti’ on the banks of politically despite being in chief Balasaheb Thackeray to power in Maharashtra in speak after the Babri Masjid ished, in a span of just five and a half hours. The cheering river Sarayu there. I had then power in Uttar Pradesh and claimed credit for Babri masjid 1995. demolition, Balasaheb openly crowd, led by Mr Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma taken along with me soil from Centre. demolition. In fact, the party Riding on the wave of a came out to say the he was Bharati, raised the slogan, “Ye to Keval Jhanki hai, Kashi, the Shivneri fort, the birth- He said he would visit L.K. did not even hesitate to shed its strong religious polarisation proud of Shiv Sainiks if they Mathura Baki hai (This is just the beginning, Kashi, Mathura place of Chhatrapati Shivaji Advani, who had undertaken a original tag of being a pro- that soared after the riots, the had demolished the Masjid. will follow)”. Maharaj, and prayed for a mir- Rathayatra. The veteran BJP Marathi party to become a Sena- During the Ram Janmabhoomi The demolition was investigated by Liberhan Commission, acle to ensure construction of a leader has been sidelined in the Hindutva party. (BJP) alliance won the polls movement, he also coined the which opined that it was a planned act led by Mr Advani and Ram temple. I am happy that BJP ever since Prime Minister The Shiv Sena organised and formed the first truly non- popular slogan ‘Garv Se Kaho company. Those guilty of demolishing the Masjid have not yet that miracle happened within a Narendra Modi took charge of events like Maha Aartis in Congress government in Hum Hindu Hai’. The construc- been punished. The demolition was followed by massive vio- year,” he said. the party. nook and corners of the city to Maharashtra. tion of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya lence, particularly in Mumbai and also in other cities. During the Lok Sabha cam- Crediting Mr Advani on Ram keep the issue burning. Since then the party has been is a matter of country’s pride,” The demolition propelled the BJP to electoral significance. paign earlier this year, Mr Mandir issue, the Sena chief The deadly riots, which fol- aggressively pursuing the the Sena’s lone minister at the In 1996, the BJP tasted political power at the Centre for the Thackeray had categorically added, “Ram Janmabhoomi lowed in Mumbai and other issue, in the Parliament as well Centre added. first time. ’92 riots signalled Bombay’s transformation to Mumbai A temple won’t heal wounds Times of India. By the time city, which had provided open karne ke liye kuch re filled with stone pelters. critical and scary. Meena Menon I reached office, I heard on THE LEGACY OF THE refuge to many, became a raste nikale or pls koi faisla Kaniza Garari A group of boys ran with Every morning, my the radio that many people GHASTLY VIOLENCE WIT- hell on earth. nikale (sic) (Happy Diwali, sticks and stones. A police neighbours who had their were killed. Justice B.N. NESSED BETWEEN The timber godowns There is no justice in the van on the main road did extended family of eight he country’s Srikrishna, who headed the DECEMBER 1992 AND burnt for days at Reay Road case of my son ecember 6, not cross to our side of the in Madanpura, South oldest land dis- commission of inquiry into and every day brought ShahnawazWagle. Can you 1992 was a lane. My only view to the Mumbai, called to inform pute has been the riots, has in his reports JANUARY 1993 WEIGHS renewed clashes. I remem- meet PM Modi or the chief special Sun- incidents was a single that they were alive, and resolved today outlined the beginning of HEAVILY ON MUMBAI ber hiding while hearing minister and ask him to day for the window of our home that vice-versa. We could not and a temple tensions on December 6 and (THEN the short bursts of gunfire find a way to open the case Lokhan- was kept open. The rest call my mother as interna- will be built at 7, 1992. BOMBAY) AND A RAM in a Vikhroli slum. At and do something).” dwala-Mantri were shut tight and no one tional calls would raise Ayodhya,T but few will know Wading through police TEMPLE IN AYODHYA IS night, we would travel Shahnawaz was allegedly Dfamily at Firdaus was to venture out. doubt. Night vigils beca- about a case that continues logbook entries of wireless home in office cars for safe- shot dead by policemen, Apartments in Kurla. Six There was a commotion me the order of the day. in a Mumbai sessions court, communications, he found NOT GOING TO ASSUAGE ty, passing tense neighbour- according to his sister families in two adjacent as men ran up and down On December 10, the related to the communal trouble brewing in the city ITS WOUNDS. hoods where evidence of Yasmin. It was only in apartments were prepar- the building. There was a Kurla office of the local riots in the aftermath of the at various points. By 11.34 the day's arson was still August 2007, when citizens ing for a wedding during Masjid opposite the build- corporator, Firoze Mantri, demolition of the Babri am, trouble was reported in smouldering. groups demanded justice, Christmas. My mother ing. The lane adjacent to it blasted late at night. Our Masjid on December 6, 1992. South Mumbai. At around Opposite The Times of that Taher was called to had gone to Karachi, her had small settlements and building was the resi- In the Suleman Usman 4.40 pm, local Shiv Sena slept, was funereal. India office, Victoria record his statement. maiden visit to Pakistan, the men were all crowded dence of his family and bakery firing case, witness- leaders took out a cycle The barbaric violence had Terminus (now CSMT) was The police registered 2,267 to meet her only sister. in the front homes. A cousins. My father wor- es are still being examined. rally in Dharavi passing barely subsided in bursting with people fleeing riot cases, of which, 1,371 There were few TV sets group of men stood on the ried the building would be The demolition of Babri through several “sensitive” December when the infa- in trains packed beyond were closed as true but those days. But by noon, terrace situated of our targeted. The compound Masjid became a pivot for areas, culminating in a pub- mous Gandhi chawl inci- capacity. Some of them undetected. A Special Task there was a commotion in building to keep an eye. gates the building gates unprecedented violence in lic meeting. The first dent revived it in January were never to return. Force was formed to act on the building. In the 21 For a Bombay-bred girl, were also locked. The ten- the city, revealing the com- instances of stone throwing 1993. Two members of the Hospitals were packed with the Srikrishna report and flats, whoever had a TV this was the first-hand day ordeal was only a munal character of the and firing was reported at Bane family and four of those injured from bullet the cases were re-examined was watching the news. In experience of violence up- glimpse of the turmoil police and the influence of Minara Masjid in Pydhonie, their neighbours, including and knife wounds. As by a committee headed by my house, there was no close. The annual family brewing across the coun- parties like the Shiv Sena. at night. a handicapped girl, were reporters, we visited and the director general of TV. The news trickled in visit to during try. Even police jeeps had the There was little indication burnt to death at night. counted the dead in Cooper police. through my father, my summer vacations had a The Christmas wedding “Jai Shree Ram” stickers that the violence would spi- Naina Bane, who survived, and JJ Hospital. In long cor- Only 112 cases were rein- uncle and my grandfather. strict set of rules to be fol- celebrations were can- on their windshields. The ral out of control and became the “face” of the ridors or courtyard, yellow- vestigated. In only eight My sisters were told that lowed, in which we could celled. My mother was ba- riots changed the cosmopol- spread over two months, second phase of the riots. ing bodies of young men cases, fresh chargesheets there would not be any not venture out without ck in town. The New Year itan character of Bombay, with the army conducting But the Shiv Sena, which were piling up, their reli- were filed. Some 894 college or school for a few an escort during the day to in 1993 came with a new sharpening the divide flag marches. After all, this exhorted Hindus to take gion no longer relevant. chargesheets were filed in days. The Masjid in the other side where the set of riots. January was between Hindus and was Bombay. I remember revenge, hardly supported That was when we realised courts. In 2007, 16 cases Ayodhya had been demol- Hindus lived. After 6 p.m. the month of burnings. Muslims. the anger on Mohammed the Bane family later. that nearly 500 had been were expedited through ished and the situation it was an absolute no. The wood scrap-yard in There are no memorials to Ali Road after Prime Naina’s brother Sudarshan killed in December 1992 - special courts, while 93 dor- was tense. But that was Godhra and Kurla depot, Kapadia the over 900 lives lost (offi- Minister P.V. Narasimha said the party didn't even the police figure were much mant ones were revived. In I was a student at this was Bombay. How nagar and Hall Road were cially) in the two months of Rao’s whistle-stop tour. provide Naina with a house lower as it depended on the 539 cases, the accused were Somaiya College of come we were witnessing burnt. Bottles were filled riots. The violence is clear As Muslims poured out of and all of them had to fend number of post-mortems acquitted or discharged. In Science and Commerce in this behaviour in a civil- with petrol and fired with as daylight for some while the Mosque, the army offi- for themselves. they did in a day. 2010, 202 cases were sent to Vidyavihar, and I had a ised and modern city? A rags or sent like rockets others have moved on. cer in-charge asked us to The scale of violence that On the 25th anniversary of fast track courts, where project to complete. naive thought. Huddled in from one locality to anoth- Back in 1992, it was a leave quickly. We left only swept the city was massive: the riots in 2017, I got a mes- some are still dragging on. However, I was certain the house, the narrative of e r. Sunday and I watched the after being accosted by People were killed inside sage from Taher Wagle. Yet, justice remained elu- that as I had classes in the violence came in the form We were not sure if we Kar Sevaks climbing the groups of people who were homes and shops; many “Happy Diwali. Mere bete sive for many families. morning, I would be back of expression. My grand- would see the next morn- Masjid on TV. My Muslim in no mood to answer any were burnt to death in taxis Shahnawaz Wagle ka abhi The legacy of the 1992-93 home by noon. But it was father, who had witnessed ing. It was the beginning neighbours watched with questions. We had to get or in public places; shops tak kuch faisla nahi hua violence weighs heavily on not to be. The morning such incidents in his life, of the change in mindset: me. I still recall the faces of curfew passes to travel were looted and establish- pls. Ap Modi sarkar ya phir Mumbai and a temple is not saw angry protests, and by was standing guard at the From Bombay to the young boys, pale with through desolate streets, ments belonging to CM sahib se milkar going to assuage its afternoon, the streets we- apartment gate. Night was Mumbai. fear. I was a reporter at The and the city that never Muslims were targeted. A Shahnawaz Wagle ka case wounds. c m y k c m y k

DECCAN CHRONICLE 10 EDIT SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI LETTERS Subhani India is spared worse, AYODHYA VERDICT November 9, 2019 will be a memorable and historic day in Indian history ever as our chapter of follies over Supreme Court put to a logical end by pronouncing he Supreme Court of India appeared to follow its own precedent its final landmark verdict in of “satisfying the collective conscience of society” in settling the the centuries-old Ayodhya Ayodhya title case and declaring the disputed 2.77 acres as belonging to Lord Ram. The court essentially threw out the 2010 dispute. It should be T accepted by one and all and Allahabad high court trifurcation of the disputed site on the grounds that the 2010 order was self-contradictory (it said one of the parties had people of all faiths and exceeded the time of limitations, and then awarded that same party a should not be considered as share in the three parts). Its justification was that from before 1856, when a victory or defeat. The the British Raj erected a wall-grill outside the mosque that lead to inter- judiciary categorically communal riots, it was clear that Hindus had been worshipping the area as Lord Ram’s birthplace. The only thing that puzzled the court is what confirms that all the faiths happened in the 400 years between the time when a Hindu structure was are equal in the eyes of archeologically found to last exist in the spot, and the time Babur erect- judiciary. Muslim community ed the mosque. must extend a lending hand It is a settlement that will satisfy majoritarian India — it is akin to the to come up with a Ram reincarnation of the Ram Temple for the hardcore devout — though one Temple and Hindu wonders if the majority of the majority community will feel anything more than indifference to the resolution of this 70-year-old dispute (or community must 165-year-old, or 400 year-old dispute, depending on whom you talk to). reciprocate to build a Religion is said to be the opiate of the masses, but from most the reaction Masjid in a place to be is one of exhaustion or ennui, their attention only momentarily deflect- earmarked. People must ed from the increasing despair over the deteriorating economy that was stand united at this juncture sunk in no small part by the needless and nutty demonetisation almost exactly three years ago. for peace, unity and One consolation is that in the entire history of the Babri Masjid’s exis- harmony in this country. tence, from 1528 to 1992, the Supreme Court found three instances of law- S. Ganapathisubramanian, breaking: the 1934 attack on the mosque, which lessened the frequency of A Solomonic verdict, Chennai prayers by Muslims; the 1949 placement of idols inside the mosque, ■ which led to a shutdown of even Friday prayers; and the December 6, The unanimous verdict of five- 1992, demolition of the masjid. This last observation should help in the judge constitution bench of the criminal case against those who conspired to demolish the mosque, the Supreme Court of India in Ram judgment of which is due to happen next spring. Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid case, The court decided that the Muslims would be compensated with five but not quite closure allotting disputed 2.77 acres of land acres — nearly twice the disputed area — in a place to be decided by to Ram Janmbhoomi Trust while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Central government within the larger Faizabad’s then DM, Ratlam. It was a horribly ordering the allotment of five acres 67 acres at the site, or by chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s state govern- K.K.K. Nayar, ICS, did not uncomfortable journey. A of land to the Muslims for the con- ment within the city of have the idols removed truck chassis is not opti- struction of a mosque in Ayodhya Ayodhya. It is to happen The Indian Muslim is reeling under a Mohan Guruswamy despite being explicitly mised for comfort but to had marked the closure of one of at the same time the dis- ordered by the chief secre- take a load, besides the independent India's most sensitive, puted area is handed series of blows that characterise the tary, Bhagwan Sahay, road was pockmarked. Mr vexatious and important litiga- over to a trust that the reign of the current Central ICS, and IGP B.N. Lahiri. Advani showing me the tions. The verdict, while upholding government will appoint government, in which Muslims Mr Nayar was rewarded Western-style toilet pro- the claim of Hindu litigants that to construct the Ram around the country are picked up for his exertions by get- vided by his chelas and they were in possession of the outer temple. This consolation he Supreme history books. ting elected as the Jan commented that he defied courtyard of the disputed land, had prize can hardly please and thrown into jail on a whimsy, Court bench All through the 164 Sangh MP from nearby anyone to sit on it when pointed out the failure of Muslim the Indian Muslim — it under dubious charges ranging from made a series of years of torturous transit Bahraich. Let’s also not the rath was moving. But side to prove their exclusive posses- is an apt metaphor for cattle-smuggling to terrorism; where interesting obs- through our courts, forget that it was in Rajiv the rath was carrying the sion of the inner courtyard. With the forced eviction and a whole population is locked up in ervations before Muslims didn’t agree to Gandhi’s time that the burden of history, and all the constitution bench directing ghettoisation that the Tit delivered its verdict. It share even the chabutara court-ordered lock on the along people thronged to the Centre to frame a scheme under community has faced their home barracks in an open held the installation of with Hindus as part of a purported “Janmabhoo- greet Mr Advani astride which it will constitute a body since December 1992. prison called Kashmir; and where idols in 1949 inside the for- grand compromise. They mi” was broken, at Arun it. It took the BJP from within three months to hand over But what is the Indian the fear of disenfranchisement by mer Babri Masjid was wanted all, and all they Nehru’s behest, with the two Lok Sabha seats in the inner and outer courtyard to Muslim to do? When the the National Register of Citizens has illegal. It held the 1992 got was five acres of land Congress even perform- 1984 to 85 in 1989. There Ram Janmbhoomi Trust, construc- “collective conscience of created a nationwide atmosphere of demolition unlawful. Yet at some other place in ing “shilanyas”. There is was no looking back for tion of Ram temple would happen society” had to be satis- it granted the disputed Ayodhya. Even if a no dispute that the claim the RSS from then. But sooner than later. fied with the 2013 hang- paranoia and panic. site to the Hindu commu- mosque is built there, I has been a historical one, when Lalu Prasad Yadav, ing of Afzal Guru for his nity to build a temple on don’t think it will be and even in 1947 an then Bihar’s chief minis- M. Jeyaram, role in the 2001 the disputed 2.77 acres of called the Babri Masjid. attempt was made to seize ter, stopped the tamasha Sholavandan Parliament attack — a case that was tenuous at best — then the Kashmiri debris-strewn land. Now There can be little deny- the property. The problem in Samastipur and arrest- Muslim was helpless. This time the Indian Muslim is reeling under a factor this with the 67 ing that like Shahi Idgah was allowed to fester ed Mr Advani, he rightly ■ because it suited all par- said: “DCM Toyota tha, series of blows that characterise the reign of the current Central govern- acres acquired by the at Mathura or Gyanvapi The much awaited verdict on ties. It was inflamed by koi uran khatola nahi!” ment, in which Muslims around the country are picked up and thrown Uttar Pradesh govern- Masjid in Varanasi, the Ayodhya has been pronounced by the intemperate language by But the rath has not into jail on a whimsy, under dubious charges ranging from cattle-smug- ment around the hitherto Babri Masjid was a sym- Supreme Court. It took all aspects of both sides to the dispute. stopped rolling. The gling to terrorism; where a whole population is locked up in their home disputed site. Clearly, the bol of Muslim rule. That the decades' long dispute, critically I recall Syed Shaha- avatar from Mathura now barracks in an open prison called Kashmir; and where the fear of disen- path has been cleared for moment in history is long examined the claims of both the sides buddin once demanding beckons for recognition. franchisement by the National Register of Citizens has created a nation- the building of a grand gone. But does destruc- and delivered the judgment. It cannot proof that Ram ever exist- Why should the Shiva wide atmosphere of paranoia and panic. Indian Muslims feel pummelled temple and a theme park tion of age-old buildings be interpreted as any side wins. In ed. Shahabuddin a former worshippers settle for so badly that the fight has gone out of them, and they just want to get on dedicated to further deify- and monuments reverse fact it is a grand win for both. They IFS officer who served as less? Rulers such as with life. The community no doubt expected, in its heart of hearts, that ing Lord Ram. history? Realising this, also deserve to be congratulated, not India’s ambassador to Aurangazeb, the last great the judgment would be as it has turned out. And in any case, what choice The unanimous judg- L.K. Advani, who led the only for the verdict, but also for their Algeria, was Prime Min- Mughal, and even democ- does it have? It has no leadership, and it has seen how the political class ment of the Supreme last charge on the Babri accommodative spirit by reposting ister Vajpayee’s hand- ratically-elected Indira and the judiciary offer the community no succor. It has no choice but to Court bench has been Masjid, called it an “ocu- faith in the Supreme Court and 1.3 picked choice for an edu- Gandhi who tried to move forward in its individual lives. generally applauded by lar distortion”. Even the billion people have once again cated Muslim face in poli- impose their beliefs and It is probably why, despite scattered attempts by local BJP units to defy most otherwise argumen- allegedly more liberal demonstrated their harmony and tics. But he just became will by being authoritari- the PM's orders and cause minor friction, the Indian Muslim has not tative Indians as an act of Atal Behari Vajpayee unity. The nation wins the English-speaking face an were felled by regional reacted. In fact, the Indian Muslim, though perhaps feeling depressed by reconciliation and even called it a “kalank”. That N. Jagannathan, Chennai the verdict, and though Milad-un-Nabi today may be subdued, has pub- an instance of Solomonic is now gone. But our his- of Muslim bigotry. It was uprisings and popular licly shown supreme indifference. Instead, Indian Muslims seek refuge wisdom. But several top tory has been writ and against this backdrop that rejection. This then is the ■ and consolation in their faith. Muslim leaders expressed imprinted on our minds. the BJP upped the ante great lesson of history. As for the judges who came up with a lucid 1,045-page judgment that unhappiness with the But that is not the history and conceived of the Rath India can only be gov- It appears on the face of it that the clinically went through the issue, the timing of the judgment was sur- court’s experiment with we must be worried Yatra. It was the brain- erned and kept together judgment is neutral and it favoured prising, as was the unanimity of the verdict, barring a single judge’s Solomonism. They say about. A new history is child of Pramod Mahajan, by the persuasive use of no one. But, on closer scrutiny, the addenda. Some had surmised that at least one prominent outlier on the they defer to it, but aren’t being written. Lord Ram Narendra Modi and M. authority and not by the crux of the judgment remains that five-member bench would have dissented. In any event, a chapter of happy. Asaduddin Owaisi has now legally metamor- Venkaiah Naidu, all blue- imposition of will. The the temple can be constructed in the Indian history has closed. One can only thank the court for having the pithily said: “The phosed from an article of eyed boys of Mr Advani elected government can disputed land which is the core issue courage to not kick the can further down the road, so that the “collective Supreme Court is supr- faith to a legal entity. The then. The “rath” itself was govern not just with the of Hindutva outfits. On this score conscience of society” can somehow put this entire sordid episode eme, but is not infallible.” judgment allots the site to a garish and stupid-look- support of a majority in there are sufficient grounds for the behind it. Although King Solomon the infant Ram Lalla ing contraption slung Parliament but by also BJP to rejoice. For instance, the RSS used the share-the-baby Virajman. It must be clar- over a DCM Toyota truck. catering to the aspirations dignitary Suresh Joshi had openly test to determine the iden- ified that Ram Lalla I rode with Mr Advani on and demands of the many declared that he was 'expecting' that tity of the biological moth- Virajman is not a living the “rath” from Indore to groups of the colorful the Supreme Court verdict on the er, Solomonic judgments person, but a notion. mosaic that India is. We Ayodhya dispute will come in favour are generally understood Mr Advani is still the also have a tradition of Hindu society. The RSS and the as compromise judgments popular villain of the lib- Solomonic judg- where some nationalities BJP are concealing their rejoicing for that reject the winner- eral set because he set off ments are generally enslaved others. Just as tactical reasons. Though the BJP take-all approach that on his Rath Yatra wanti- understood as India is a nation of diverse leaders, right from the Prime characterises most mod- ng a Ram Mandir built in people, it is a nation of Minister, had been stating that the compromise judgment is no victory or defeat to ern common law adjudica- Ayodhya. But that dem- judgments that diverse victimisations. tions. But sometimes Solo- and was a much older What the founding fathers either party, the BJP leaders may monic judgments may pri- one. The British first all- reject the winner- sought to enshrine in our subtly hijack the judgment to its oritise pleasing and dis- owed Hindus to offer wor- take-all approach... Constitution is to ensure favour in the forthcoming assembly pleasing the litigating par- ship at the mosque in that the march of victimi- elections. Sometimes V.N. Gopal, ties in varying degrees 1857, soon after the events Solomonic sation is halted once and over deciding disputes in that year to restore for all. Solomonic judg- Chennai strict accordance with the Bahadur Shah Zafar as judgments may ments don’t help in that. relevant law. Clearly, the truly the emperor. One prioritise pleasing Supreme Court preferred Abhirama Das first plac- and displeasing The writer, a policy ana- TIME TO MOVE ON Solomonism over law. It ed the idols inside the the litigating lyst studying economic and security issues, held may have sewn up the mosque premises in parties in varying November 9, 2019, is a wound, but the scar will December 1949. It is also senior positions in govern- historic day when the remain. It will be in our pertinent to mention that degrees... ment and industry Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court Office politics demned prisoner's legs till Ranga’s brought to close an he Winter Session of Parliament life was pulled out of him, reveals issue that was opened Tis about to commence but Lok Sumitra’s men or Om Birla’s? Gupta. Sunetra, an award-winning with the demolition of Sabha Speaker Om Birla has not author-journalist-TV news anchor, been able to make some key appoint- has provided an effective voice to a mosque 27 years ments to his staff. Individuals with a Uttarakhandi’s turn well-meaning persons in the state Gupta’s dark world of incarceration. ago. Though a wrong Sangh background who were part of he Maharashtra impasse has Congress want the Nath-Singh- cannot be righted by a Sumitra Mahajan’s establishment Tbrought into focus the Scindia trio to patch up informally Freedom to Fadnavis rued are lobbying hard to get a new lease Uttarakhand politician Bhagat and quickly. new wrong, it is time of life in office. Mr Birla reportedly Singh Koshiyari, who is occupying How Ranga died he Maharashtra political stale- for members of both has his own set of favourites from the Raj Bhavan at Malabar Hill in Tmate has brought into focus Rajasthan but the ‘political clear- Mumbai. If the state heads for new book on Tihar Jail has some lesser-known details of the the Hindu and Muslim ance’ has not arrived. An agonising President’s Rule, Koshiyari will Ashocking details of how the pre- BJP’s functioning. It was assumed faiths to place their wait continues. become the third Uttarakhandi to be mier prison in the national capital that BJP chief Amit Shah, consid- Parliament TV? directly ruling a state. While has been functioning. In Black ered a modern-day Chanakya, has a collective trust in its Trivendra Singh Rawat is chief min- Warrant (Roli Books), narrator Midas touch. However, little birdie wisdom and move on. move is afoot to merge Lok ister of Uttarakhand, his Uttar Sunil Gupta, Tihar jailer, has given from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg In fact, this has largely ASabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV. Pradesh counterpart Yogi a graphic account of the January 31, in New Delhi now says he was mis- Many contractual staffers face an Adityanath or Ajay Mohan Bisht too 1982, hanging of two dreaded crimi- led by the state unit on selection of been the case, with uncertain future beyond January hails from Pauri Garhwal. nals — Ranga-Billa who had kid- some candidates, as well as the poli- one of the litigants, 2020. Apparently, the government No peacemakers please napped, raped and murdered 16- tics behind the Shiv Sena fielding finds separate Rajya Sabha and By WAQYANAWIS year-old Geeta Chopra and her Aaditya Thackeray. So, when it Mohmmed Iqbal Lok Sabha TV entities extravagant he titanic battle of supremacy younger brother Sanjay in New came to government formation the Ansari, even promising and useless when Doordarshan is Tbetween Madhya Pradesh chief peacemakers. Now, the warring fac- Delhi. Incredible as it may sound, central BJP leadership gave a “free doing a much better job. There is minister Kamal Nath, Digvijaya tions of the Madhya Pradesh Gupta told co-author Sunetra hand” to chief minister Devendra to abide by the ver- also a view that Lok Sabha TV has Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia has Congress Committee (MPCC) are Choudhury how Ranga had actually Fadnavis (who resigned on Friday) dict. been occupying too much of space gotten a twist. Congress president dreading the Patil-Kumar duo, survived hanging at Tihar. A consta- instead of taking direct charge. Till Ramesh G. Jethwani inside the Parliament House Sonia Gandhi has deputed Shivraj known to hold court and speak at ble was asked to jump into the well the time of writing, it had not premises. Patil and Meira Kumar to act as length, resulting in nothing. Some of “Phansi Kothi” to pull the con- worked. Bengaluru

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minutes after highlights of I have to accept the community and creating hypocrisy of the Congress, then Asaduddin Supreme Court harmony? those idols would not be placed the judgment were inside a mosque in 1949. Had Owaisi reported widely on the judgment. But I have The question of accepting the the idols not been placed, the media, a cover of a book, a right to also verdict for the sake of amity masjid would have still existed. titled, “Supreme, Not respond to it, critique does not arise, because I would It was Congress PM Rajiv it, give my opinions like to ask you first — was this Gandhi who unlocked the Infallible” — echoing what judgment delivered for the Babri Masjid. It was Congress was left unsaid by many about it. Don’t I have a sake of brotherhood? The judg- PM P.V. Narasimha Rao who Q&A in the community he right to comment on ment must deliver and uphold failed to save the masjid from represents and leads. the judgment and justice, based on evidence, on demolition. Muslims were On a day so historic that This judgment, besides express my the title dispute. Who told you deceived by all these so-called we are against harmony? secular political parties. Now, it is guaranteed to its impact on the case that dissatisfaction with it? Though the judgment of the Muslims have to emerge as significantly remain in the was a source of strife, Supreme Court is final, accord- politically strong, without nation’s collective mistrust and conflict sincerity. Our counsels pre- ing to the Sharia, there was a depending on these parties. memory, impacting not between people, sented their contentions in full mosque there, and it will length, backed with strong always remain a mosque. Why are you asking for only the people of today communities, and a legal research and facts. The AIM- rejection of five-acre land but all Indians to come challenge before India, PLB may choose to file a What do you have to say for building a new mosque? ahead, perhaps changing the AIMIM chief argued, review petition, but I can’t say about the Sangh Parivar the psyche of its two will become a precedent whether the court would today? I do not know whether the reconsider the judgments and Muslim Personal Law Board significant communities — for other disputes of its findings in response to a I want to inform all people of would proceed to file a review Hindus and Muslims — mandir and masjid. review petition. the Sangh Parivar that we, petition or not. I don’t know forever, and establishing On such a day, Mr Muslims of India, are whether it would accept the new contours and balance Owaisi spoke with ATHER AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi In the past you had categor- respectable citizens of India and five acres for the mosque or between the two, one MOIN of this newspaper A masjid caught up in legal when other courts start react- ically stated you would we will always remain. We will not. But in my personal opin- contention exists in ing to those cases, in the light accept any judgment of the tell our generations to come ion, we should reject the stand voice that stood out as and gave out his views Varanasi, the Lok Sabha of this judgment, of its fullest Supreme Court. What has that there was a masjid for 500 of giving us five acres of land distinct, separate, sui strongly on a slew of constituency of Prime consequence. changed now? years, which the Sangh demol- for a new mosque. generis, and perhaps the contentious issues: Minister Narendra Modi. ished in front of the eyes of the Muslims of India have full only one that sounded in The Sangh people will now Will either the AIMPLB or I have to accept the SC judg- world, with conspiratorial col- faith in the Constitution. We argue that we accept the you as a leader of a political ment. But I have a right to also lusion of the Congress Party on were contesting the case for discord, even a trace of The case brings to a closure 1991 Act, but we have a party or as an individual respond to it, critique it, give December 6, 1992. We were our legal rights, not some land dissent was the stand a contentious issue of the right on the undercroft of seek a further review of this my opinions about it. Don’t I ditched by the Supreme Court given to us as alms. Though backed by a lifetime’s past several decades, in fact, the masjid. judgment? have a right to comment on the judgment. Describing the demo- Muslims are very poor and conviction, the chief of All since the nation became judgment and express my dis- lition of Babri Masjid as vandal- weak, even though we have independent. What is your In Lucknow, there is dispute As the national president of satisfaction with it? ism is an understatement. Why been discriminated against, no India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul- response to it? Do you have on Teele Wali Masjid. Some the AIMIM, I will respect any Is it or is it not permissible should we forget the killing of one can deny this simple truth Muslimeen (AIMIM), any apprehensions? day, they (Sangh) might tell and all decisions that the All- any more, in keeping with the and the demo- — Muslims are not so miser- ASADUDDIN OWAISI. you that they do not a have dis- India Muslim Personal Law rights bestowed by the lition of the Babri Masjid? able that they could not buy a Mr Owaisi, himself a There are many cases in front pute on the masjid itself, but Board (AIMPLB) might take in Constitution, to express my piece of five acres of land for a lawyer trained in Britain, of our courts, including the site we have claims on cortile area. response to the Supreme Court views? Is it a contempt of How do you feel about the masjid. If I ask the people of disputes in Kasi and Mathura, I have apprehension that the verdict on the Babri Masjid- court? I have a right to freedom Congress Party? Hyderabad, they will donate so intrepidly called out the which are pending. Though the Sangh Parivar will drag many Ram Janmabhoomi dispute. As of expression in India. much that we can build a judgment, saying it seems Supreme Court had mentioned mosques to court now, claim- far as the future course is con- It is very unfortunate, and mosque in Uttar Pradesh. We to be a “victory of faith the Places of Worship Act 1991, ing that temples existed in cerned, the Muslim Personal Should not the Muslim com- late, but finally the true colours need no alms from anyone. We over facts”, and tweeting other parties will refer to this those places centuries ago. We Law Board and its counsels munity accept the verdict in of the Congress have been do not need patronage from judgment as a precedent. will all realise only in future, had presented their stand with the larger interest of the exposed. If not for the any corner. Ayodhya, 1992, left Muslims shaken; Ayodhya verdict sets precedent: Doctrine in 2019, the hate has become normal of necessity invoked? The dawn of the Modi Chandrababu Naidu first nity was prepared for riots is a quote from Oliver era saw Muslims being spoke of “equidistance” from and violence, no Muslim was Cromwell, winner of the English Mir Quadir Ali both the BJP and the prepared for being branded Civil War. targeted like never Congress and later offered “anti-national” and having to Aakar The court added that it “found before. While mentally “outside” support to the Atal prove his or her love for the that the governor-general’s the community was Behari Vajpayee govern- country at every step. Patel actions prevented the break- prepared for violence, ment, he immediately Attempts to defend ourselves down of the political and consti- hough more than was imposed earlier, we became the most despised by pointing out that we opted tutional institutions of half of my life has vaulted over the wall and no Muslim was person, replacing even Mr to stay on in India and not Pakistan”. And so the court gone by since the onto our neighbour’s terrace prepared for being Advani on the list. This was leave for Pakistan were overlooked wrongdoing and jus- fateful events of where the men used to play branded ‘anti-national’ because Mr Advani, despite brushed aside casually and tified it. To my mind it appears December 6, 1992, dominoes or carrom. and having to prove his infamy, was someone far more often than not he Ayodhya judgment that the Ayodhya judgment also Tmemories of the day are as In the days that followed, away on the horizon while ridiculed. Anyone standing has reminded one of comes out of similar thinking vivid as it was yesterday. I the discussion invariably his/her love for India. Mr Naidu was a familiar fig- up for the rights of the com- our judicial history. and a reliance on necessity. I am had climbed up the biggest of was “what next”. In my local- ure and was someone who munity was painted with the On the Indian subcon- absolutely unclear about why the guava trees in our court- ity, the Muslim Personal Law had gone to great lengths to same brush of “anti-national” tinent, the judiciary the court felt it essential to hand yard, and had already con- Board, and especially the sit- machinery being our shield, portray himself as secular. or accused of appeasement. Thas invoked something called over the entire land to the tem- sumed one of the fruits and ting MP from Hyderabad, were all razed that day. We Mr Naidu was to be replaced While these changes took the Doctrine of Necessity. ple after saying that it could not eyeing another ripe one just Sultan Salauddin Owaisi, began to feel alienated, and on top of the list of most hated place, one question that no In Pakistan, this happened 65 conclude that the Babri Masjid out of reach when I heard the was declared guilty of failing for the first time, victimised politicians very soon by Mr one has attempted to answer years ago. Just a short while was built on a demolished struc- news wafting over the air, to protect the masjid. The in our own land. The BJP’s Modi in 2002, in the aftermath remains: To what ends? after Independence, the ture. from a radio blaring in a “guilty” label was ultimately political ascendancy in the of the Gujarat genocide. Hindutvawadis obviously are Pakistan Army took over charge The Supreme Court accepts neighbourhood home. erased when he swore on the days that followed strength- Interestingly, the rabble- intelligent enough to realise of the country in a sequence of that the breaking down of the My ears could hear the Holy Quran after Friday ened this feeling. rousers were never reviled; that they cannot rid the coun- events that made Gen. Ayub mosque after the mobilisation newsreader saying some- prayers in the Macca Masjid For the first few days, they were always seen as try of at least 30 crore Khan the leader of the country. by the BJP was a violation of the thing about “extensive dam- that he was innocent and a speeches by Muslim politi- what they were — a nuisance. Muslims. This community The sequence was triggered by rule of law and a crime. It also age” to one of the domes of victim of circumstances. cians were devoted to claims News of the deaths of the kar can be subjugated only so the governor-general, a man accepts that the act of putting the Babri Masjid. It was too P.V. Narasimha Rao was that they would give their life sevaks in the Sabarmati much and not more, since the named Ghulam Muhammad. He idols in the mosque was that of stunning, too unbelievable. cursed, and was branded a and ensure that the masjid Express fire on February 27, Constitution empowers it, was a partner of the Mahindra desecration. But it nonetheless Safely ensconced in a neigh- stooge of the RSS. Some even would be rebuilt at the very 2002 was immediately met like it empowers all citizens. group of India in a company that gives the land over to those who bourhood that was predomi- said that under his dhoti, he spot. Initially, these claims with suspicion that it was the Some Muslims with more was originally called Mahindra desecrated, saying that: nantly Muslim, I was too used to wear the famous RSS evoked optimism, but gradu- handiwork of politicians. foresight than others see the and Muhammad (later renamed “Whether a belief is justified is young to realise the signifi- knickers. Though many ally, they were taken less and While Gujarat was in flames, situation as an opportunity Mahindra and Mahindra). He beyond judicial inquiry. Once cance of what had transpired. Muslims may not openly say less seriously. Like every Muslims everywhere burned. that will make the communi- was a clever man, a chartered faith is established, courts Still, a sudden, indescribable it, Narasimha Rao remains other community before us, Some months after the ty stronger, better and more accountant by training, who should defer to it.” darkness enveloped me. The the most reviled of all the sadness faded and was Gujarat riots, the Muslim productive. was named to run the finance It has become clear that legally only other time I experienced Congress leaders, years after replaced by hope. Hope in the Personal Law Board organ- American author Lafayette ministry. After the death of India has done what the Vishwa a similar darkness was when his death. judiciary, in the law and hope ised a mammoth public meet- Ronald, in the early 1950s, Jinnah in 1948, and the assassi- Hindu Parishad and the BJP my father passed away. Ironically, the Hindu com- that one day, we will get back ing in Hyderabad, where said: “Man thrives, oddly nation of Jinnah’s deputy were demanding all this time. Hyderabad, especially the munity at large was never what is ours. The hope failed speaker after speaker vowed enough only in the presence Liaqat Ali Khan in 1951, the When I was a student 30 years Old City, had in its history blamed; it was only the lead- to dull our hatred for Advani justice to the victims. The of a challenging environ- Pakistan Muslim League was ago, Arun Shourie came to our seen and withstood commu- ers of the BJP and P.V. and Co. Anyone even talking speakers also made it clear ment”. For Muslims in India, leaderless and in this space university in Vadodara to speak nal riots, it had withstood an Narasimha Rao who were positively about the BJP was that they were anointing this is the perhaps the biggest Muhammad became governor- on the issue. This was three invasion, and before that a cursed. As days went by, the mentally branded an enemy, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin challenge the community has general. years before the mosque was flood that took the life of community began feeling the without a second thought. It Owaisi as the undisputed faced. It has been punched, In 1954, he unlawfully dis- demolished. Mr Shourie (who thousands. But never a impact of the aftermath. The was this hatred that led to political leader representing kicked and is down on the missed the Pakistan Constituent was then a supporter of the BJP) threshold such as this had Mumbai riots that followed, many Muslims rejoicing in the community in the coun- ground. There is no place to Assembly which was taking said that Muslims should take been crossed, never had our and the increasingly vitriolic Narendra Modi upstaging try. The Gujarat riots also go but rise and stand firm. much longer than India to frame the mosque and go somewhere faith been crushed, nor had comments by Shiv Sena L.K. Advani and becoming saw the community gather its Oddly enough, it was busi- its Constitution. Those who else, because for Hindus the land the faith of others trampled, leader Bal Thackeray, left us the BJP’s prime ministerial wits, realise that it was time ness as usual on Saturday, were dismissed went to court was sacred. What we are going to subverted and vanquished shaken. Thackeray’s vitriol candidate, though the former that individuals became one November 9, when the where it was determined that do now is the same thing except the law. ensured that there would be was far more reviled. The and stand up to face an Supreme Court gave its ver- Ghulam Muhammad’s actions that it has legal cover. Curiously, nobody ran out no negotiated settlement vis- hope also failed to stop ghet- enemy that brooked no dis- dict on the Babri Masjid title were unlawful. However, he and We should know that the on the streets, there was no a-vis the Babri Masjid, since toism in the Old City. The sent, offered no quarter and dispute. Going by the open the new ministers who had Pakistani court’s actions had slogan shouting, there was no every Muslim believed that a handful of Hindu families in had absolutely no sense of shops and traffic on the roads taken power with him went into long-term repercussions. The outward reaction as such. firm stand alone could stop our neighbourhood moved humanity. of the Old City, it is clear appeal. form of law that we have in Perhaps everyone in my Hindutva’s onward march. away to new localities. We The dawn of the Narendra Muslims had at the back of Here the Supreme Court India and Pakistan relies on locality was too stunned to I remember reading a tried to persuade them to Modi era saw Muslims being their minds accepted the ver- backed Muhammad, justifying precedent. A few years later, by react. Or perhaps they did report by a Muslim colum- stay, saying that the worst targeted like never before. dict and have moved on. The his illegal action. The judgment when Ghulam Muhammad had not know how to react, since nist how he was shunned at a was past, and they would While mentally the commu- city was bustling as usual. reads: “Thus the issue raised died, the court used the same this was something unimag- public meeting. I also remem- remain unharmed, but to no refers to the extraordinary pow- reasoning to validate the mili- inable, unprecedented and ber a columnist, I believe it avail. Similar instances of ers of the governor-general dur- tary takeover of the government like a bolt from the blue. By was Shobhaa De, writing in Muslim families migrating ing the emergency period and by Gen. Ayub Khan. And then dusk, the roads were empty the Deccan Chronicle how in from Hindu neighbourhoods not to powers which vest in the again when Gen. Zia-ul Haq and the only movement was casual conversations at par- were heard of, and the com- governor-general during normal hanged Prime Minister Zulfikar of stray dogs. Every home ties, Muslims were being munity at large clucked its times when the vital organ of the Ali Bhutto and became that had a TV was crowded insinuated as “they” or collective tongue, expressed Constitution, namely the legisla- President — the courts were fine with neighbours; ears were “them”, as if we were second- sadness and accepted it as a ture, is functioning, and the with it because there had glued to the radio, hoping to class citizens. Till December fact of life. question that we have to consid- already been a precedent. Closer catch any and all news. 6, 1992, despite numerous The demolition of the Babri er is whether there is any provi- to our time, Gen. Musharraf was At 9 pm that day, riots, Muslims in Hyderabad, Masjid brought some posi- sion in the Constitution govern- validated in the same fashion. Doordarshan repeated what especially in the Old City, tives too. More and more ing such a situation or any other All the dictators have operated had already been claimed had never felt unsafe. Muslim youth in the Old City legal principle within, outside or under legal cover, and their over the radio — “extensive Perhaps it was because the began to realise the futility of above the Constitution Acts actions have been seen as legiti- damage to one of the domes of Old City had always been pre- petty business and began to which entitles the governor-gen- mate. the Babri Masjid”. A dour- dominantly Muslim, or per- study harder. The elders of eral to act in case of necessity of What the long-term repercus- looking P.V. Narasimha Rao haps because the riots were the community turned their such a nature”. sions of the Ayodhya judgment came on TV, and we heard limited to pockets and it was focus to education, exhorting Basically, since there was an are will unfold in time. But him promise that the masjid business as usual after the the youth to study well. Study emergency (and it didn’t matter there will be repercussions of would be rebuilt at that very flare-ups subsided. centres were set up, and some that the emergency was a cre- course. And I hope that the con- spot. I remember the words The demolition of the Babri well-off Muslims began to ation of the governor-general), sequences are not going to be as “President’s Rule” being Masjid left us, like all streamline the system using he had to be allowed to do what- damaging to us as they were to imposed in Uttar Pradesh Muslims across India, shak- Zakat collections. The over- ever he wanted. The court Pakistan. after Kalyan Singh resigned en to the core. Our trust in whelming sense of loss also added: “If nothing should be and his government was dis- the Constitution, our belief in created a bond of brother- done but what is according to Aakar Patel is a writer, missed. I remember curfew the system, our conviction in hood, of unity and of toler- law, the throat of the nation columnist and executive being imposed the next day. our loyalty to this country, ance. might be cut while we send for director of Amnesty Like all other times curfew our reliance on the official In the late 1990s, when N. someone to make the law”. This International (India) DECCAN CHRONICLE 12 JUDGMENT DAY SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI

2019 Jan. 4 SC says an appropriate bench constituted by it will pass an order on January 10 for fixing the date of hearing in the title case. ● Jan. 8: SC sets up a five-judge Constitution Bench to hear the case headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising justices S A Bobde, N V Ramana, U U Lalit and D Y Chandrachud. ● Jan. 10: Justice U U Lalit recuses himself PICS: SONDEEP SHANKAR prompting SC to reschedule the hearing for January 29 before a new bench. ● Jan. 25: SC reconstitutes 5-member Constitution Bench to hear the case. The new bench comprises Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, The Ram Katha... Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer. ● Jan. 29: Centre moves SC seeking permis- 1528 | Babri Masjid built by Mir Baqi, commander sion to return the 67-acre acquired land While most people familiar of Mughal emperor Babur. with the destruction of the around the disputed site to original owners. 1885 | Mahant Raghubir Das files plea in Faizabad ● Feb. 26: SC favours mediation, fixes Mar 5 Babri Masjid in district court seeking permission to build a canopy for order on whether to refer matter to court- December 1992, know that outside the disputed structure. Court rejects the appointed mediator. plea. the inscriptions on the ● 1949 | Idols of Ram Lalla placed under central March 8: SC refers the dispute for mediation mosque state that it was dome outside the disputed structure. by a panel headed by former apex court judge F M I Kallifulla. built in 1528-29 by Mughal 1950 | Gopal Simla Visharad files suit in Faizabad ● emperor Babur's general district court for rights to worship the idols of Ram April 9: Nirmohi Akhara opposes in SC Lalla. Centre's plea to return acquired land around Mir Baqi, how many are Ayodhya site to owners. ● Paramahansa Ramachandra Das files suit for familiar with the many continuation of worship and keeping the idols. ● May 9: 3-member mediation committee sub- mits interim report in SC. twists and turns in the his- 1959 | Nirmohi Akhara files suit seeking possession tory of a site that has been of the site. ● May 10: SC extends time till Aug 15 to com- plete mediation process. at the heart of a dispute for 1961 | UP Sunni Central Waqf Board files suit for ● over 500 years. It may have possession of the site. July 11: SC seeks report on "progress of 1986 | Feb. 1 | Local court orders the government to mediation". only bubbled to the fore open the site for Hindu worshippers. ● July 18: SC allows mediation process to con- when after years of relative 1989 Aug. 14 | Allahabad HC orders maintenance of tinue, seeks outcome report by Aug 1. quiet, a Sant Digvijay Nath status quo in respect of the disputed structure. ● Aug. 1: Report of mediation submitted in from the Gorakh-nath math 1992 Dec. 6 | Babri Masjid demolished. sealed cover to SC. - which incidentally is the 1993 April 3 | 'Acquisition of Certain Area at ● Aug. 2: SC decides to conduct day-to day Ayodhya Act' passed for acquiring land by Centre BJP leaders Uma Bharti with Murali Manohar Joshi on the day hearing from Aug 6 as mediation fails. alma mater of the current in the disputed area. the Babri Masjid was brought down on Dec. 6, 1992 UP chief minister Yogi ● Aug. 6: SC commences day-to-day hearing ● Various writ petitions, including one by Ismail Aug. 7: SC constitutes three-judge bench to hear on the land dispute. Adityanath - organised a Faruqui, filed in Allahabad HC challenging various pleas challenging 1994 verdict of the Allahabad HC. aspects of the Act. ● Oct. 4: SC says it will wrap up hearing on nine-day recitation of the 2018 Feb. 8 | SC starts hearing the civil appeals. Oct 17, judgement by Nov 17. ● SC exercising its jurisdiction under Article 139A Ramcharitmanas, at the transferred the writ petitions, which were pending ● July 20: SC reserves verdict. - SC directs UP govt to provide security to end of which, idols of in the High Court. ● Sept. 27: SC declines to refer the case to a state Waqf Board Chairperson Rama and Sita appeared 1994 Oct. 24 | SC says in historic Ismail Faruqui five-judge Constitution bench. Case to be heard ● Oct. 16: SC concludes hearing; reserves case mosque was not integral to Islam. by a newly constituted three-judge bench on order. inside the mosque. The then October 29. 2002 April | HC begins hearing on determining who ● district magistrate in ● Nov. 9: SC grants entire 2.77 acre of disput- owns the disputed site. Oct. 29: SC fixes the case for the first week of ed land in Ayodhya to deity Ram January before an appropriate bench, charge of Faizabad district 2003 March 13 | SC says, in the Aslam alias Bhure Lalla, possession of land will which will decide the schedule remain with Central govern- K.K.K. Nayar refused to case, no religious activity of any nature be of hearing. allowed at the acquired land. ment receiver. SC also remove the idols and police ● Dec. 24: SC decides to directs Centre and UP promptly locked the premis- 2010: Sept. 30 | HC, in a 2:1 majority, rules take up petitions on govt to allot 5 acre land three-way division of disputed area es, with only Hindu priests case for hearing on to the Muslims at a between Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi January 4, 2019. prominent place for allowed entry to perform Akhara and Ram Lalla. building mosque. daily rituals. Without fur- 2011 May 9 | SC stays HC verdict on ther ado, the mosque was Ayodhya land dispute. 2017 March 21 | CJI J.S. Khehar now a temple. The Sunni suggests out-of-court settle- Wakf board objected. The ment among rival par- ABRM filed a suit. But it ties. wasn't until right-wing groups like the Vishwa Nov. 9, 2019 SC grants entire 2.77 acre of disputed land in Hindu Parishad began a Ayodhya to deity Ram Lalla, possession of land will movement to reclaim the remain with Central government receiver. SC also directs Centre and UP govt to allot 5 acre land to the site for a Ram temple, and Muslims at a prominent place for building mosque. it snowballed into a huge << protest that led to the demo- Jabalpur: Students of the lition of the Babri Masjid Sanskrit Veda Vigyan Kendra watch Supreme in 1992, that the Court's verdict on the Ayodhya case on a phone, Ramjanmabhoomi move- in Jabalpur, Saturday, ment brought the BJP from Nov. 9, 2019. The apex court on Saturday cleared the sidelines to national the way for the construc- tion of a Ram Temple at prominence. And with the disputed site at today's verdict, etched their Ayodhya, and directed the Centre to allot a 5-acre name in the history plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a books. mosque. – PTI DECCAN CHRONICLE 13 JUDGMENT DAY SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI Nuanced verdict brings closure: Prince of Arcot ‘Bhismacharya’

he Prince of Arcot, the steady progress and devel- Nawab Mohammed opment of the country, which TAbdul Ali, has welcomed can be achieved only by won it for the Supreme Court of India’s improving the socio-economic verdict on long-pending Babri conditions of the masses, not Masjid-Ramjanambhoomi dis- by creating conflicts over pute. places of worship. Ram Lalla Describing it as a nuanced India today is a diverse and judgement, the Prince said it pluralistic society: multi-eth- DC CORRESPONDENT has finally brought closure to nic, multi-linguistic, multi- CHENNAI, NOV. 9 what looked like an religious and multi-cultural. intractable dispute between That is its great strength. It “CJI: Do u want to sit & argue? the two major communities of must be preserved. We are 92-yr-old Parasaran: It’s ok. You’re too kind. The India. He sincerely appealed part of humanity with all its tradition of the Bar has been to stand & argue, to Muslim parties and the All rich diversity of religions, lan- and I’m concerned about the tradition. My last India Muslim Personal Law guages, cultures, traditions wish before I die, is to finish this case.” Board (AIMPLB) not to file a and experience and India That's one of many posts in social media to hail review petition against the forms a large microcosm of Senior Counsel K Parasaran, who at an advanced Supreme Court’s verdict. He the contemporary world, he age of 92, fought the case for Ram Lalla in the said that the Muslim bodies said. Supreme Court, exhibiting awesome energy of must honour their promise of Let us remember, communal- mind and body through the 40 grueling days of abiding by the court’s ruling if ism brings death, destruction final arguments, often dipping into his deep it were to go against them, in and horror in an expanding knowledge of the ancient scriptures to win all- all fairness to God and man, way. Indian law specifically round accolades. he said. prohibits the practice of com- The twitter post by @SirJadeja was recalling a The Muslims must find sol- munalism, the promotion of widely reported incident in the court when Chief ace in the fact that the disharmony, enmity and ill- Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi politely asked Supreme Court did not agree will between different reli- Parasaran, considering his advanced age more with the contention that the gious communities and than his professional fame, if he would like to sit Babri Masjid was built after exploitation of religion. and argue his case. 'Padma Vibhushan' demolishing a Hindu temple. The Prince appealed to all Parasaran, who had served as Attorney General He praised the Supreme Court fellow citizens and said in a of India for six long years till 1989, was even more for reiterating the fact that statement that “India’s future polite in thanking the CJI and telling him he both the demolition of the is in your hands. Promote the would rather not seek exemption from the “tradi- Babri Masjid in 1992 and the spirit of tolerance and nation- tion of the Bar to stand and argue”. surreptitious placing of idols al integration. Let us not give Such has been his in 1949 in the structure were any quarter to communalism deep commitment illegal. Therefore, those and pseudo-nationalism. We “MY LAST WISH towards practising responsible for the demolition must together resist all the right court man- must be brought to book. attempts to exploit religious BEFORE I DIE IS TO SEE ners while pro- The Prince also appealed to sentiments for political pur- A LOGICAL END TO pounding his legal the people of India, irrespec- poses.” THIS CASE”, knowledge and pro- tive of caste, creed or religion, He called upon the people to PARASARAN HAD SAID fessional compe- especially the Hindus and join hands and stand up for tence, not to forget Muslims to work together for communal harmony, secular- DURING HIS COURT his famed practice of ism, fraternity and human sol- ARGUMENTS, PLEADING drawing heavily idarity. Let us build a strong, WITH THE from the united, democratic, just and CONSTITUTION BENCH Upanishads, Gita prosperous India, he empha- and other scriptures sised. THAT THE ENTIRE to buttress his case DISPUTED LAND India’s future is in your arguments with tra- ditional Indian val- hands. Promote the BELONGS TO HIS CLIENT, RAM LALLA ues. spirit of tolerance and Some of those national integration. Let us awestruck followers not give any quarter to of the court events communalism and have tweeted a multitude of requests to the Union pseudo-nationalism. We must Government that this 'Bhishmacharya' of India's together resist all attempts to legal profession, this 'guru from Tamil Nadu' exploit religious sentiments must be decorated with Bharat Ratna. “Periyar for political purposes Model Ayodhya temple broke Ram statue in TN, Kalaignar said there is One of the models of Sri Ram Temple displayed in New delhi. — Archive of Sondeep Shankar no proof for existence of Ram. But today, we have —PRINCE OF ARCOT from the same TN (Srirangam), Shri Parasaran as leading counsel appeared for Ram Lalla Virajman. Lord Ram returns after 491 years of ● The family of a karsevak Sadashiv Jadav who exile & we are blessed to see this”, said one among was killed in the 2002 the multitude of admirers on twitter. incident hailed the verdict. “Today, I am The extensive media reportage during the 40 happy....My father's dream of Ram temple days of intense arguments in the court had a lib- eral dose of Parasaran's submissions before the being constructed in Ayodhya will be fulfilled,” Shun differences, says Rajini Bench, his responses to the clarifications sought said Jadav son Vilas. DC CORRESPONDENT Friday statement on the his reaction to the by the judges. He would go well prepared every CHENNAI, NOV 9 'saffron trap' had created Supreme Court verdict on day for the sessions that began at 10.30 in the ● Deendayal Parisar, the BJP's headquarters in big buzz in the media and Ayodhya. morning and closed around 4 or 5 pm. And during Madhya Pradesh, was decorated with earthen Superstar Rajinikanth political circles, even lead- In fact, even his Friday those sessions, he would often face the mercurial lamps on Saturday to “express gratitude” welcomed the Supreme ing to the quick and easy statement alleging Rajeev Dhavan representing the Muslim side. The Court verdict on Ayodhya conclusion that he was attempts to get him into veteran would forever stay calm, even when following the verdict. and said just as he respect- distancing himself from the saffron trap and his Dhavan tore up pages or termed as 'foolish' some- ● ed the order, all people the BJP. assertion, amid that loud one from the Hindu side. One media report refers A Muslim organisation in Madhya Pradesh irrespective of religion Another interesting ele- signature laughter, that he to how when the arguments concluded on October announced the cancellation of the traditional and region should respect ment noticed in this would not be caught in it 16 and the court reserved orders, Parasaran wait- annual procession to mark Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, it in national interests. Ayodhya reaction from just as Thiruvalluvar ed outside for 15 minutes to meet Dhavan and take the birthday of Prophet Mohammed, to be held Quick to provide the Sporting a large saffron- the superstar was his would not get caught, was a photograph with him. That was a great lesson on Sunday. An organiser said the decision was sound bytes on the Ayodh- sandalwood paste kumkum sporting a large tilak dur- all in response to pointed not just for Bhishma's team but to the entire ya verdict to TV cameras ing the brief session questions from the media lawyer community. taken in view of the verdict. on his forehead, superstar outside his Poes Garden Rajinikanth addressed the before the TV cameras. persons and not made suo “My last wish before I die is to see a logical end bungalow, Rajini stressed Such a 'loud' statement of motu with a view to drive to this case”, Parasaran had said during his court ● The historic verdict of the Supreme Court media outside his Poes the importance of mainta- Garden bungalow to make faith during a media inter- in a political message that arguments, pleading with the Constitution Bench coincided with the 30th anniversary of the fall ining peace and camar- a statement on the action is rather unusual he is not saffron. Some that the entire disputed land belongs to his client, of the Berlin Wall. aderie among people of all Ayodhya verdict by the SC for Rajini - perhaps he was have also interpreted that Ram Lalla. Well now, he has achieved victory in religions “for the sake of conveying a message that statement as his anguish the court and going by his robust physical and on Saturday. ● The ministry of information and broadcasting the welfare and economic he has not really strayed at the opposition politi- mental health, the grand old man of Mylapore is issued an advisory to all television channels and growth of our country”. said and hastened to get away from saffron or, cians and some media per- sure to score the century while getting several “I appeal to all to shun back into the house -per- maybe, he had just done sons rubbing saffron on more cases to their logical end. cable TV operators in the wake of the verdict to religious differences and haps to avoid getting into his pooja in the house and him because of his pro- adhere to programme code and ensure that work together for the sake another bout of provoca- stepped out for a short Modi comments in the debates, discussions and visuals do not incite of our country. tive exchanges with the statement since the jour- past, and not aimed at the any “divisive” or “anti-national” feelings Vanakkam. Jai Hind”, he media persons since his nalists were pressing for BJP leadership. 2nd of 3 core promises by BJP done

NARASIMHAN arguments were rudely in part achieved through the VIJAYARAGHAVAN brought to an end with Rajeev THE FIRST APPEALS WERE KEPT Triple Talaq legislation. What Dhavan tearing up a map, just 3 BOILING IN THE APEX COURT FOR A next? A party that was branded and it to Chief Justice days were given to all sides to as communal, came down to 2 Ranjan Gogoi. He is furnish their submissions in DECADE. MENTIONS WERE MADE MPs in 1984, could not last 13 H“Man of the Match” and relation to ‘moulding the BEFORE ONE CHIEF JUSTICE AFTER days and 13 months, in govern- now a man of history too. He reliefs’. It is from these sugges- ANOTHER. NONE HAD THE GUMPTION, ment, in their early forays, was aware it would be a miracle tions, and also from the con- today stands on the cusp of if he could conclude the hear- temporaneous mediation GALL AND CONFIDENCE TO LIST IT. BUT turning real each of the 3 ings for a verdict. He has per- process led by Justice Ibrahim GOGOI WAS MADE OF STERNER STUFF. impossible dreams. The opposi- formed a higher miracle in Khalifullah, the gentleman AND FROM THE PULPIT, HE CARRIED AUTHORITY. THE tion parties must be gasping for accomplishing a unanimous judge from Tamil Nadu, that breath and Shiv Sena may have one. Just to capture the potency the Supreme Court picked up JUDGES MET DISSENT, EVEN PERSONAL BARBS, BUT chosen an inopportune of the sensitivity of the issue, its cues in the grant of reliefs. IGNORED THEM FOR A HIGHER CAUSE moment to test an ally. Parasaran the 1,045 page verdict, includ- Truth to tell, reference to medi- Muslims may feel peeved that ing the Addendum, is authored ation has turned out to be a Art.142 was invoked to render by all five judges ‘anonymous- masterstroke, in appropriating ‘complete justice’ when it may ly’ - a never before occurrence. the generosity of the Muslims, entire 2.77 acres of disputed session and worship of believ- be injustice to them, as the In a first, SC order The first appeals were kept with an imprimatur from the land’. And the Sunni Waqf ers in Ram’s birth place’, to Supreme Court had conceded boiling in the apex court for a Supreme Court. Board’s worship claims allied vote on the entire 2.77 acres. proof of their ‘vested right’ in decade. Mentions were made Lord Ram may (as the Hindus with illegal demolition of However, they ruled that demo- worship and illegality in demo- delivered on Saturday before one Chief Justice after believe) or may not (as the Babri Masjid got them 5 acres lition of Babri Masjid being lition of Bari Masjid. Therein New Delhi, Nov. 9: days a week, from Mon- another. None had the gump- Addendum dissent suggests) of alternate land in a promi- illegal, SWB would be entitled lies the seeds of dissent and a The judgment in the day to Friday, and in tion, gall and confidence to list have been born in Ayodhya. nent place in Ayodhya. for reparation in ‘5 acres of possible review, but the score politically sensitive Ay- extraordinary circum- it. But Gogoi was made of The top court said ‘continued Coming to the ‘moulding of alternate land’ to be given by line being 5-0, it may turn out to odhya land dispute stances hold hearing in sterner stuff. And from the pul- worship across centuries was reliefs’, the Supreme Court Central/State governments, for be an exercise in futility. If case is historic in more courtroom on Saturda- pit, he carried authority. The no myth but real’. Equally, the embraced that panacea for all construction of a mosque. peace and harmony reign, in than one sense as it is ys or any other holida- judges met dissent, even per- Supreme Court did not dismiss ills - provision in Art.142 of the Modi, it appears, is destiny’s the wake of this “wise and perhaps for the first ys. But it was rare that sonal barbs, but ignored them the ‘namaz practices of Constitution which our forefa- child, for BJP, to fulfil their sagacious compromise like ver- time in the 69-year his- Chief Justice of India for a higher cause. Muslims in the Babri Masjid’. thers had thoughtfully provid- three core manifesto promises. dict”, as a retired judge said, we tory of the Supreme Ranjan Gogoi chose Sa- In a moment of ‘utter judicial The idol Ram accepted as juris- ed for, ‘to do complete justice’. Art.370 through Parliament, may yet have the closure we Court that a verdict turday to deliver such madness’, as a twitter handle tic person (not Ram Supreme Court religiously now, building of a grand Ram deserve. was delivered on Satur- an important judgme- put it, Ranjan Gogoi chose to Janmabhoomi itself, as urged) tucked into it, based on the temple, via judicial benevo- (The writer is a practising day. nt, a senior official of bite the bullet. After heated was favoured with ‘a decree of ‘continued and unimpeded pos- lence and a Uniform Civil Code, advocate in Madras HC) Judges hold court five the apex court said. Maintain peace All should accept the SC ruling PAGE on Ayodhya and maintain peace State 14 DECCAN CHRONICLE SUNDAY I 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI

■ ‘Direct dept officials to cancel permits for violations’ FIRE MISHAP PIL seeks regular bus

Every Indian would find the Ayodhya fare checks by officials ruling to be DC CORRESPONDENT G.O. issued under section stage carriages i.e., in city satisfactory CHENNAI, NOV. 9 67 of the Motor Vehicles and moffusil buses, rang- Act was applicable for ing from `10 to 20 in excess — Pon Radhakrishnan, A Public Interest both private and state of the fixed fare, in gross Litigation (PIL) has been owned buses. Further, violation of clause (i) of former Union minister filed in Madras high court, they were under obliga- sub-section (1) of the MV to direct all the Regional tion to adhere to the fares Act and the G.O, he added. Transport Authorities as fixed by RTA and STA He said the petitioner (RTA) and State Transport and stipulated under the obtained a list of excess SHORT TAKES Authority (STA) to carry above said G.O as one of fare check reports in vigorous checking for ted that the Transport the conditions for permit, Coimbatore region for House burgled excess bus fare and sus- Department issued a G.O as per section 84 © of the both government and pri- pend/cancel the permit of dated January 28, 2018 by MV Act. Both government vate buses from the year As many as three huts were gutted in a fire that broke out on Govindhan Salai in West the violators who collect which the upward revision and privates buses indi- 2011 under the RTI Act. Saidapet on Saturday morning, engulfing the area with a thick cloud of dark fumes. in Avadi fares in excess of the fares of fares for various cate- rectly and illegally collect The excess fare check Though any casualty or injuries were not reported in the accident, properties worth lakhs Chennai: Around 11 sover- approved as per a G.O. gories of buses was made. bus fares far in excess of report furnished to the were reduced to ashes. —DC eigns of gold jewels were bur- dated January 28, 2018. In the notification, the the fare approved by RTA petitioner clearly reveals gled from a house in Avadi in A division bench com- fares for the stage car- and STA fixed based on the that in most cases, the broad daylight on Friday. prising Justices M.Sathya- riages plying as ‘City and said G.O. The phenome- fares collected in excess Police said, the victim, narayanan and Town services’ other than non was not new. For were double the original Manikandan (30), a resident of N.Seshasayee before in Chennai Metropolitan instance, the Tamil Nadu fare fixed as per the per- Amirthpuram in Kattur near whom the PIL filed by area on routes/area in the State Transport mit. As regards action HC denies bail to SA man Avadi, is a carpenter while his Coimbatore Consumer state of Tamil Nadu shall Corporation, Coimbatore taken for the said viola- wife works at a private compa- Cause represented by its not exceed the fares calcu- division as that of other tion, the violators have ny in the city. On Friday morn- secretary K.Kathirmat- lated at the rates given in Division has been regular- been imposed only a mea- ing, they locked the house and hiyon, came up for hear- the G.O. As per the notifi- ly violating the fares ger amount and a nominal in heroin smuggling case left for work. When the couple ing, ordered notice to the cation, the fares for the approved based on the fine of `100 only in almost returned home around State Transport Secretary stage carriages plying as G.Os issued earlier regard- all cases. It was ironical DC CORRESPONDENT Limited that the seized par- Nearly after four and half 8 pm, they found that their and Commissioner and ‘ordinary services’ on ing fare fixation. The RTI that when the excess fare CHENNAI, NOV 9 cel was booked at Flywing years, he filed the present house had been broken into. the Regional Transport routes/areas in the state of replies, the petitioner collected by the permit Express Services in Adyar. petition. They rushed inside only to Authority, Coimbatore and Tamil Nadu shall not obtained from the year holders runs to lakhs of The Madras high court has On the next day, the NCB Counsel for the petitioner find the bureau open and valu- posted to December 6, fur- exceed the fares calculated 2015 would themselves rupees in a month, the dismissed a second bail officials visited the said submitted that the petition- ables missing. Based on a com- ther hearing of the case. at rates given in the G.O, show that the said State meager fine imposed occa- petition from a South office and found that an er was a South African plaint by Manikandan, the Petitioner’s counsel he added. Corporation has been ille- sionally had no deterrent African National, who was African, by name Kenneth National, bearing South Avadi Tank Factory police S.Sathiachandran submit- Sathiachandran said the gally collecting bus fare in effect at all, he added. arrested in the city on Stanley had booked the African Passport and he registered a case. —DC January 30, 2014 in connec- consignments and he may came to India under stu- tion with a case relating to come back to book a foreign dent visa, worked in Delhi attempting to export destined consignment like- and therein, he married a 3-day custody to SPECIAL PRAYERS 350gms of heroin to ly to contain drugs on Tamil girl belonging to Bid to break ATM Canada, South Africa, New January 29, 2014, on which Tanjore and both of them shooting accused York and other countries. date, the NCB officials went got re-located to Chennai foiled in Tiruchy Justice R.Subbiah who to the office of Flywing and they were even having Chennai: The Thalambur dismissed the second bail Express Services and at a baby. He was in jail for police have taken custody of Tiruchy: An attempt to application filed by around1730 hrs, the said five years and 8 months. Vijay who shot his friend at break open an ATM of the Kenneth Stanley, directed Kenneth Stanley came to For completion of trial, it his house in Vengada- State Bank Of India (SBI) the trial court to speed the office with card-board would take further consid- mangalam, Kancheepuram on near the OFT bus stop at up/expedite the trial and box. On enquiry, he erable time, he added and November 5. Thalambur suburb here complete the trial without revealed that the said box prayed to grant bail. police inspector, filed a by a miscreant, was foiled adjourning the trial for one contains concealed heroin Citing a judgment of plea for his custody in the in the wee hours of reason or the other at the and the officials seized Madras high court, the Chengalpet court and was Saturday. Police said the behest of either side, and 100gms of heroin. He gave judge said a reading of the granted three days for an intruder, wearing a black dispose of the case within confession statement and judgment would show that inquiry. A food delivery execu- coat and covering his face six months. admitted his guilt in pro- only if the court was satis- tive, Vijay (21) shot his friend with a mask, attempted to The prosecution case was curement, possession, fied that there were reason- Mukesh (19), a third year EEE break open the ATM after that on January 27, 2014, on transportation and attempt able grounds for believing student of a polytechnic col- applying a paste on the information from M/s to illegally export out of that the accused was not lege in the city. Mukesh suc- CCTV camera. But before Aramex India Private India to Canada, South guilty of such offence and cumbed to injuries on the he could proceed, he Limited, the NCB officials Africa, New York and other that he was not likely to same day. heared the rustling sound went to the company and countries, thereby entered commit any offence while Vijay was missing for a day Devotees offering prayers and milk on Sani Pradosham at Gangadeeswarar of a man who was sleep- opened two International into a criminal conspiracy on bail, bail could be grant- after the incident before sur- temple in Purasawalkam, Chennai, on Saturday. —DC ing in a nearby bus shel- Consignment boxes, for trafficking of the con- ed. This court could not rendering to the Chengalpet ter, rush towards the declared to be bangles and traband. On the next day he find any such situation in court while being accompa- ATM. Hence, the intruder found 250gms of heroin in was arrested and remanded the present second bail nied by his lawyer. Magistrate fled the spot. the boxes. On further to judicial custody. His first petition of the petitioner, Gayathri Devi remanded him Further investigations enquiry, it was revealed bail application was dis- the judge added and dis- in judicial custody for 15 days Thanjai medical college are on. —DC from Aramex India Private missed on April 16, 2015. missed the petition. and he was lodged at Puzhal central prison. On Friday the magistrate granted the police three days’ custody and asked that he be produced before the hosp gets latest facilities court on Monday. —DC SPG cover lifted: AICC miffed DC CORRESPONDENT , NOV. 9 DC CORRESPONDENT ● AICC termed Union Girl student of TIRUCHY, NOV. 9 government’s decision to Tamil Nadu health minis- revoke the SPG cover IIT-M ends life ter Dr. C. Vijayabhaskar The All India Congress for Congress leaders on Saturday inaugurated Committee (AICC) strongly as unjustified and Chennai: An 18-year-old girl the state of the art facili- condemned the Union that it reflected the from Kerala, pursuing her first ties at the medical college Government’s decision to political vendata of the year undergraduation course here. withdraw the SPG security ruling party in the humanities stream at IIT The facilities include cover provided to Congress Madras committed suicide by Tamil Nadu Accident and The minister later told pists and adequate num- president Sonia Gandhi, government to immediately hanging from a ceiling fan in Emergency Care presspersons that the ber of doctors will be AICC leader Rahul Gandhi restore the SPG security her hostel room, police said on Initiative (TAEI) depart- Thanjavur medical col- soon appointed. and Priyanka Gandhi. cover for Sonia Gandhi, her Saturday. The girl, who was ment, state of art modu- lege hospital is now hav- Later, Dr. Kumudha The AICC said the deci- son and daughter. last seen on the night of lar operation theatre in ing facilities of interna- Lingaraj, Dean of TMC, sion reflected the Prime He said, the country on November 8 by other hostel department of tional standards, and told Deccan Chronicle Minister Narendra Modi- November 8 observed the inmates, did not answer her orthopaedics under the these will be helpful to that TAEI will have x-ray led, Home Minister Amit third anniversary of mother’s calls this morning, a Chief Minister’s compre- people in Thanjavur and unit, pharmacy, blood Shah-driven BJP govern- the BJP government’s police officer said. “The girl’s hensive health insurance surrounding districts. bank, all in one place, and ment at the Centre was AICC secretary in-charge of the party’s Tamil Nadu and demonetisation which sent mother later called one of the scheme, state of art mod- “This is a red letter day there will be no delay in working on the basis of Puducherry affairs addressing the media, in Tiruchy on the country's economic hostel inmates and requested ular operation theatre in in the annals of TMCH. treating accident victims political vendata, said Saturday. —DC growth into a worse state, to look for her daughter,” the multi super speciality We have inaugurated and providing trauma AICC Secretary Sanjai and it is due to the BJP gov- official told PTI adding that the building (CSSD), state of facilities that will provide care. Dutt, in-charge of the and Kalai, on party build- tion of former Prime ernment's anti-people and student, along with others, art central sterile depart- medical care under one R.Vaithilingam, MP, party's Tamil Nadu and ing activities, Dutt told Minister Indira Gandhi and anti-poor policies, and went to check her room and ment, 56 bedded state of roof without delay,” he said that cardiology Pudhucherry affairs. newsmen here on Saturday Rajiv Gandhi, Dutt said faulty GST implementa- found her hanging from the art high-end super spe- said. He also said that department in the TMCH Following discussions that the government’s both the leaders had sacri- tion that there is an ceiling fan. The inmates broke ciality intensive care through the medical serv- is now providing all with party’s state working decision was to physically ficed their life. increase in the country's open the door and informed unit, cath lab, biplanar ices recruitment board, kinds of treatment like president Vasanthkumar, eliminate Rajiv Gandhi's Terming the govern- unemployment percentage, police, who removed the body cath lab, 128 slice CT, dig- 2,345 nurses, 1,234 village angio, stent, even by-pass MP, Tiruchy district presi- family. ment’s action as totally FDI growth rate etc, he to the Royapettah GH. —PTI ital x-ray etc. nurses, 90 physiothera- surgery. dents Jawahar, Govindaraj Recalling the assassina- unjustified, Dutt urged the added. Kovai temple poojaris get court reprieve J.STALIN | DC the conclusion that the year 1992, it appears that CHENNAI, NOV. 9 We are of the opinion that the Hereditary Poojaris were without the knowledge of Hereditary poojaris have no right in doing service to the Temple the Temple authorities, the Declaring that the the lands in question, though have without getting any remu- Hereditary Poojaris have Arulmighu neration and they were in included their names in the Temple in Coimbatore dis- been rendering service as ‘Service enjoyment of the lands in patta and have also made an trict, alone is entitled for Inam’ in lieu of the remuneration for the lieu of their service to the attempt to alienate the compensation at 100 per- service done by them in the temple, Temple and therefore, they lands. Moreover, in the suit cent including interest, coupled with the fact that they are not were also entitled for com- filed by the Temple the solatium etc., the Madras pensation, apart from the Hereditary Poojaris remai- high court has set aside an cultivating the lands and this shows that Temple and apportioned ned ex-parte. Subsequently, BLISSFUL WEATHER order of a lower court, the hereditary poojaris have no right the compensation. Aggriev- the execution proceedings apportioning the compensa- whatsoever in the lands in question ed by the same, the Temple were initiated by the tion amount awarded under filed the present petition. Temple and the possession the land acquisition pro- — THE BENCH The bench said it was was also taken from the People walking on the streets of Periamet in heavy rains on Saturday. —DC ceedings in the ratio of 25 no doubt true that in the Hereditary Poojaris. percent to the Temple and temple was in possession concerned. After comple- Settlement Tahsildar Further the names of the 75 percent to the Hereditary and enjoyment of the lands tion of the acquisition pro- proceedings, the names of Hereditary Poojaris were Poojaris. for several decades. Even ceedings, award was passed HereditaryPoojaris have subsequently deleted from A division bench compris- the Inam Register Entry on March 6, 1998 granting been included as “repre- the patta. The Hereditary ‘Chennai is now water secure’ ing Justices R.Subbiah and made in the year 1936 dis- compensation of `34.52 sented by poojaris for the Poojaris have not produced T.Krishnavalli made the closes that the lands lakh including solatium. time being”. But their any relevant documents Chennai: Thanks to north- come turn of events, inces- 3,231 mcft. Water levels at declaration while allowing belonged to the Temple. The Hereditary Poojaris of names were entered tem- before the court below to east monsoon rainfall, sant spells of northeast Cholavaram stood at 205 the first appeal filed by the While so, notices were the Temple claimed that porarily to represent the substantiate that they Chennai has now entered monsoon and southwest mcft against its full Executive Officer, issued by the Special they were entitled for the Temple and individually were the tenants under the ‘water secure’ club. The monsoon rains have replen- capacity of 1,081 mcft, Arulmighu Mariamman Tahsildar, Pollachi, in 1997 compensation amount. their names were not the Temple. But the court Chennai Metro Water ished the city's major water while Red Hills recorded Temple. proposing to acquire the Since there was dispute included, more so, when below came to the conclu- Supply and Sewerage bodies to adequate levels. 1,045 mcft against 3,300 According to petitioner, lands for the purpose of between the Temple and the the Ryotwari Patta was sion that the Hereditary Board (CMWSSB), in a On Saturday, CMWSSB mcft. an extent of 22.21 acres of providing house-sites to the Hereditary Poojaris, the issued in favour of the Poojaris were tenants, and tweet on Tuesday said the announced that the total Chembarambakkam cur- dry lands in Udumalpet vil- people belonging to Adi land acquisition officer Temple, which was evident hence, they were also enti- state capital is officially out water capacity of Chennai rently holds 281 mcft lage were granted to the Dravidar Community. The referred the matter to a from the Settlement tled for the compensation, of water shortage. as of now stood at 650 MLD against its full capacity of Temple under the Tamil land acquisition officer civil court. On considera- Tahsildar proceedings, which was contrary to the On June 19 this year, (million litres per day). 3,645 mcft. The total storage Nadu Minor Inams selected 12 acres and the tion of the oral and docu- mentioning that the pleadings of the Hereditary CMWSSB announced that As of Saturday, storage at in the four reservoirs (Abolition and Conversion district collector also sent mentary evidences, the “Kudivaram rights” vest in Poojaris themselves, the the city had completely run Poondi stood at 1,518 mcft put together stands at into Ryotwari) Act. The the notice to the parties Subordinate Judge came to the Temple. Further, in the bench added. out of water. But, in a wel- against its full capacity of 3,049 mcft. —DC Sexual abuse PAGE A French former model and actress accused Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski of raping Nation 15 her in a Swiss ski resort when she was a teenager DECCAN CHRONICLE SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI Form govt: Maha Guv to Fadnavis DC CORRESPONDENT ward to form the govern- MUMBAI, NOV. 9 ment despite the passage We have a duty to of 15 days, the commu- use all we have to Amid the tussle over chief niqué further added, ministership between the “The governor has there- defend what was Shiv Sena and the fore decided to explore Bharatiya Janata Party, the possibility of forma- so hard-won Maharashtra governor tion of government and Bhagat Singh Koshyari today asked the leader of — Mike Pompeo on Saturday invited the the elected members of US secretary of state latter, the single-largest the single largest party, party to stake claim to that is BJP, to convey its form the new govern- willingness and ability to ment. form the government, IN BRIEF Speaking to The Deccan (sic).” Chornicle, senior BJP While the Shiv Sena has leader Sudhir Mungan- still not committed its tiwar said, “A decision support to the BJP, SARMA IS will be taken in a meeting Congress and NCP will of party’s core committee vote against the BJP in NEW NRC on Sunday.” case it comes to floor test. The communication fro- “The NCP will think of COORDINATOR m the governor’s office an alternative if the Shiv said, “The Governor of Sena votes against the MANOJ ANAND | DC Maharashtra Shri Bhagat BJP on the floor of the GUWAHATI, NOV. 9 Singh Koshyari today House and the govern- asked the leader of elect- ment collapses,” NCP After the transfer of National Prime Minister Narendra Modi eats langar after inaugurating the passenger terminal building of the Kartarpur corridor on the Indian side, also ed members of the single spokesperson Nawab Malik said. Meanwhile, Register of Citizens (NRC) known as Integrated Check Post, in Gurdaspur on Saturday. — PTI largest party, the Bhara- coordinator, Prateek Hajela, to tiya Janata Party, Shri Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Madhya Pradesh, the Assam Devendra Fadnavis to Raut said that the government on Saturday indicate the willingness Governor’s decision to appointed Hitesh Dev Sarma, a and ability of his party to ask the BJP to indicate its 1986 batch Assam Civil Service form the government in willingness to form gov- officer, as the new coordinator. PM opens Kartarpur corridor Maharashtra. (sic)” ernment was a welcome He will be taking over on Noting that no party or step and the move follows Monday. The Supreme Court alliance has come for- laid-down procedure. had earlier ordered the trans- fer of NRC coordinator, Modi flags off first ‘jatha’ of pilgrims, Manmohan Singh among visitors Prateek Hajela, following which the Assam government Dera Baba Nanak, Nov. Sidhu. Shiromani Gurd- had started a hunt to select the 9: Prime Minister ■ THE state-of- wara Parbandhak Com- PAKISTAN USES OPPORTUNITY new NRC coordinator. Narendra Modi on the-art passenger mittee members and all airport Sarma earlier worked in the Saturday inaugurated the the 117 MLAs and MPs TO RAKE UP KASHMIR ISSUE NRC directorate. He was Kartarpur corridor, flag- terminal has been from Punjab were also involved in the initial work on ging off the first batch of constructed on 15 part of the 'jatha' (delega- VINEETA PANDEY | DC the NRC which started in 2013. over 500 Indian pilgrims acres of land tion). KARTARPUR, NOV. 9 shut over ‘Bulbul’ Later, he moved out of NRC here, including former Before dedicating the directorate in 2016. prime minister Manm- ■ THE FULLY corridor to the nation, Pakistan Prime Minister New Delhi, Nov. 9: nied by winds reaching Sarma is currently posted as ohan Singh and union air-conditioned Modi partook langar (com- Imran Khan and his for- Operations at the Kolkata up to 120 kmph and tidal secretary in department of minister Harsimrat Kaur munity kitchen) along eign minister Shah airport, the busiest in waves up to one to two finance and urban develop- Badal. The corridor links building, akin to an with Punjab Governor V P Mahmood Qureshi on eastern India, was sus- metre, is expected while ment, government of Assam. Gurdwara Darbar Sahib airport, has over 50 Singh Badnore, Ama- Saturday used the pended for 12 hours the cyclone is expected to The next process of issuing in Pakistan, the final rest- immigration coun- rinder Singh and state Kartarpur Corridor open- beginning 6 PM on make a landfall on the rejection letters to those left ing place of Sikhism ters for facilitating Congress president Sunil ing as an opportunity to Saturday due to severe coast at out of the final NRC is expect- founder Guru Nanak Dev, Jakhar. Modi, who donned raise the issue of cyclone ‘Bulbul’, home around 2000 to 2200 hours ed to start during the month. to Dera Baba Nanak about 5,000 pil- a saffron coloured turban Kashmir. ministry officials said. on Saturday. The Supreme Court bench shrine in this Punjab dis- grims a day was shown a model of the Mr Khan said that India Imran Khan The severe cyclone was The National Crisis had transferred Hajela. The trict. Kartarpur corridor. and Pakistan need to sit expected to make a land- Management Committee decision came against the Modi flagged off the first At the time of flagging and resolve the issue to inaugurated on the Indian fall on the West Bengal (NCMC), the country’s backdrop of two cases regis- batch of pilgrims led by ough the newly-built 4.5 off the jatha, Modi met make a new beginning side by PM Modi. coast on Saturday apex body to handle any tered against the former NRC Akal Takhat Jathedar km-long corridor. Manmohan Singh, who just the way Karatarpur “Today what has hap- evening. “Due to very emergency, reviewed the coordinator by Assam Police Giani Harpreet Singh to India had signed an was accompanied by his Corridor dream of the pened is that our relation- severe cyclone ‘Bulbul’, preparedness to deal with following complaints of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib agreement with the neigh- wife Gursharan Kaur. Sikh community has been ship (India and Pakistan) operations at Kolkata air- ‘Bulbul’ over the Bay of wrongful exclusion in the citi- through the corridor, bouring nation on October The state-of-the-art pas- fulfilled. However, no one has come to a halt. If port is being suspended Bengal which is likely to zens’ list published on August which was thrown open 24 on the modalities for senger terminal building, from the Indian side Narendra Modi is listen- from 1800 hours on affect coastal districts of 31. A total of 3,30,27,661 people days ahead of the 550th operationalisation of the with a design inspired by talked anything contro- ing to me then he should November 9 up to 0600 West Bengal and Odisha. had applied to be included in birth anniversary of Guru corridor at ‘Zero Point’ of ‘Khanda’, a symbol of versial or mentioned understand justice brings hours on November 10,” The meeting of the the NRC. Nanak Dev on November the international bound- faith in Sikh community, Kashmir. In fact, Navjot peace. Give justice to an official said. NCMC, headed by cabinet The former NRC coordinator 12. The Prime Minister ary at Dera Baba Nanak. has been constructed on 15 Singh Sidhu and Giani Kashmir. If borders are Severe cyclone ‘Bulbul’ secretary Rajiv Gauba, had courted several controver- inaugurated the passenger The first batch of pil- acres of land. Harmeet Singh, head of opened then think of lay about 90 km south- was informed by the sies ever since the exclusion of terminal building of the grims included Punjab The fully air-conditioned the Indian jatha were the progress and peace it will southeast of Digha, 85 km India Meteorological 40 lakh people from the draft corridor on the Indian Chief Minister Ama- building, akin to an air- only two who spoke at the bring. Leaders unite peo- south of Sagar Islands Department (IMD) that list. side, also known as the rinder Singh, former chief port, has over 50 immigra- event. ple. They do not spread and 185 km Southeast of the cyclone has now Integrated Check Post, minister Parkash Singh tion counters for facilitat- The Indian delegation, hatred. Those who spread Kolkata. intensified and is likely to where pilgrims will get Badal, Sukhbir Singh ing about 5,000 pilgrims a had travelled through the hatred for votes are not Heavy to extremely cross the West Bengal WORLD clearance to travel thr- Badal and Navjot Singh day. — PTI Karatarpur Corridor leaders,” said Mr Khan. heavy rainfall, accompa- coast. — PTI Tensions soar in BLOOMBERG TAKEAWAYS FROM TRUMP IMPEACHMENT FB sorry about bias HK over arrests MAY BE IN U.S. A rough  Text messages show that pressure was  Sondland, testified to investiga- Hong Kong: Hong Kong transcript of exerted on Zelenskiy to make a public tors that Trump largely delegated police said they have arrest- PREZ RACE the call on statement committing himself to investi- Ukraine policy to Giuliani, who at against black staff ed three pro-democracy law- July 25 gating Burisma before he would be the time was seeking to dig up dirt makers over a brawl in par- Concord, Nov. 9: New San Franciso, Nov. 9: snide comments. liament, deepening the city’s York business tycoon between allowed to meet with Trump at the White on Biden, a leading candidate for Facebook apologised after “On the inside, we are crisis a day after the death Michael Bloomberg has Trump and House, part of the “quid pro quo” — that is the 2020 Democratic presidential black employees anony- sad. Angry. Oppressed. of a student sent tensions paved the way for a shot Zelenskiy at the heart of the impeachment inquiry. nomination. mously shared feelings of Depressed,” the post read. soaring. The international at the US presidency, confirmed workplace bias in an “And treated every day finance hub has been upend- registering as a candi- the whistle-  Top US diplo-  Trump’s acting chief of  The former US ambassa- online post. through the micro and ed by five months of huge date in the Alabama blower’s mat in Ukraine, staff, Mick Mulvaney, dor to Ukraine, Marie The post shared by a ‘FB macro aggressions as if and increasingly violent pro- Democratic primary most dam- William Taylor, acknowledged that the aid to Yovanovitch, testified that Blind’ profile laid out per- we do not belong here.” democracy protests but race before deadline. aging allega- ceived slights by man- The anonymous post Beijing has refused to give in Although the 77-year- said Trump made Ukraine was linked but later Trump had ousted her from agers, white colleagues, maintained that the to most of the movement’s old billionaire has not tion: that the release of US contradicted himself in a her position based on and the human resources atmosphere at Facebook demands. With the city brac- publicly announced his Trump asked security aid to statement from the White “unfounded and false department. has worsened in the past ing for a 24th consecutive run, his inclusion amo- Zelenskiy to Ukraine contin- House that ruled out a quid claims” after she had come “No one at Facebook, or year when it came to non- weekend of rallies, police ng a crowded field kept investigate gent to Biden pro quo. under attack by Giuliani. anywhere, should have to white workers being brought charges against his options open for whether investigations put up with this behav- recognised, empowered three key pro-democracy mounting a concerted Biden. ior,” corporate communi- and treated equitably. lawmakers while four other bid to topple a fellow  Trump has  Volker, the former special envoy to Ukraine, testified that cations vice-president “The problem is not just lawmakers said they had New Yorker, President contended he had helped to connect Giuliani with a top aide to Bertie Thomson said. with black employees of been ordered to attend a Donald Trump. that he did Ukraine’s president as the president’s personal lawyer con- “We are sorry. It goes different genders,” the police station to be booked. Analysts say a not hold tinued to seek information damaging to the Bidens. against everything that post read. “We are They face up to a year in jail Bloomberg candidacy up the we stand for as a compa- remaining anonymous because Facebook creates if convicted. Rallies and could do the most dam- $391 million  Michael McKinley, a  Trump’s former national security ny. We’re listening and prayer vigils are expected on age to the prospects of adviser John Bolton said he will not working hard to do bet- a hostile culture where Sunday evening. A shut frontrunner Joe Biden, in US mili- former adviser to ter.” anyone that is non-white down is planned on Monday. but the former vice-pres- tary aid to Pompeo, testified that testify until a federal court decides Incidents described in is made to feel fear for ident put on a brave face pressure he quit a few days whether current and former admin- the post included being their job and their safety and said he was not wor- Zelenskiy. before his appearance istration officials like him must targeted for negative per- to report any bad behav- ried Bloomberg would before congressional cooperate with the investigation. formance reviews or iours.” — AFP OZ BUSHFIRES draw away centrist vot- committees because  US national security. Army ers. of departmental lead- Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Bloomberg’s name was ership’s unwillingness DESTROY 150 posted among 17 candi- Vindman said he heard Sondland dates on the Alabama to defend Yovanovitch pressure Ukrainian officials to Wealth of world’s HOMES, 2 DIE Democratic Party’s web- from the attacks on investigate the Bidens in order to site, just hours before her. get a coveted meeting with Trump Melbourne, Nov. 9: Two peo- the deadline. — AFP richest people falls ple have died, five are missing and at least 150 homes have Zurich, Nov. 9: The this year. Some Hong been destroyed as bushfires world’s richest people Kong tycoons have begun rage across eastern Australia, NEW | HIGH The plane is among the proud experiments Nasa has performed became a little less well moving personal wealth authorities said on Saturday. off last year, according to offshore, Reuters reported The New South Wales Rural a report by UBS and PwC, in June, as concerns deep- Fire Service (NSW RFS) con- as geopolitical turmoil en over the protests. firmed two people had been Nasa unveils first electric plane X-57 and volatile equity mar- “We haven't seen any killed by a fire near Glen kets reduced the wealth of significant outflows, we Innes. One body was discov- Edwards Air Force Nasa also showed off a Armstrong before he billionaires for the first have been tracking some ered in a vehicle and a woman Base, Nov. 9: Nasa, most newly built simulator that joined the Apollo moon time since 2015. of these numbers on a died after being found suffer- prominent for its many allows engineers, and team. The Maxwell will be Billionaires’ wealth fell regular basis,” said Amy ing from burns. Florida-launched exploits pilots, to get the feel of the agency’s first crewed by 4.3% globally to $8.5 Lo, UBS co-head of Asia Five other people remain into space, showcased an what it will be like to X-plane to be developed in trillion last year, the Pacific wealth manage- unaccounted with Prime Min- early version of its first manoeuvre the finished two decades. UBS/PwC report found, ment. “Our clients have ister Scott Morrison saying he all-electric experimental version of the X-57 in While private companies with a sharp decline in been diversifying all feared the number of deaths aircraft, the X-57 flight, even as the plane have been developing all- Greater China, including along, it’s not in the last could rise. ‘Maxwell’, at its lesser- remains under develop- electric planes and hover- Hong Kong, and the Asia- one year.” “These fires have already known aeronautics lab in ment. The Maxwell is the craft for years, Nasa’s X-57 Pacific region more Private banks including claimed two lives and as we get the California desert. latest in a proud line of venture is aimed at design- broadly. the world’s largest wealth access to further areas that Adapted from a Italian- experimental aircraft the ing and proving technolo- Private wealth in Hong manager UBS have felt have been cut off we are made Tecnam P2006T Nasa has developed over gy according to standards Kong fell 4% in 2018 to the effects of US-China expecting worse news again,” twin-engine propeller many decades for many that commercial manufac- $319.8 billion, the report trade tensions and global Morrison said. plane, the X-57 has been Edward Air Force Base. ered by specially designed purposes, including the turers can adapt for gov- showed, with months of political uncertainties, as Reserve members of under development since But after attaching the two lithium ion batteries — bullet-shaped Bell X-1 that ernment certification. anti-government protests clients shied away from Australia’s armed forces may 2015 and remains at least a largest of 14 electric Nasa deemed the Maxwell first broke the sound bar- Those will include stan- in the Chinese-ruled city trading and taking on be used to assist emergency year away from its first motors that will ultimate- ready for its first public rier and the X-15 rocket dards for airworthiness and an economic reces- debt in favour of hoard- services. test flight in the skies over ly propel the plane — pow- preview. plane flown by Neil and safety. — Reuters sion clouding the outlook ing cash. — Reuters Support for BCCI PAGE The BCCI has got a shot in the arm after England Board chairman Colin Graves intimated ICC that they will not support the global Sport 16 body’s bid to have a flagship event every year from 2023 to 2031 DECCAN CHRONICLE SUNDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2019 | CHENNAI

NAGPUR TRACK RECORD

Played 3 Series on the line India won Lost There is a hint of 1 2 MS Dhoni in his ■ captaincy. He uses India and Target India’s HIGHEST INNINGS Bangladesh TOTALS part-time bowlers bowling, says 215-5 in 20 overs Sri like Dhoni. face off in Lanka vs India in Bangla coach 2009 — Irfan Pathan on Bangladesh T20 decider skipper Mahmudullah Riyad Nagpur, Nov. 9: 186-9 in 20 overs today Bangladesh coach Russell India vs Domingo on Saturday in 2009 Nagpur, Nov. 9: India will said his team will be tar- SHORT TAKES be eyeing their first T20 geting a rather inexperi- International series win enced Indian bowling LOWEST INNINGS BCCI AGM to be at home this season when attack to upstage the TOTALS they take on Bangladesh hosts in the T20 series held on Dec. 1 in the decisive third game decider here on Sunday. 79 in 18.1 overs India here on Sunday, with the The Indian team is with- vs New Zealand in New Delhi: The BCCI will have hope that their fringe out the services of 2016 its first Annual General Meeting players contribute signifi- injured pace spearhead (AGM) in three years under cantly to a victory. Jasprit Bumrah, seamer 116-6 in 20 overs Sourav Ganguly’s leadership in In the absence of some Bhuvneswar Kumar and Hong Kong vs Mumbai on December 1 where senior players, including Hardik Pandya with Afghanistan in 2016 the old guard of the BCCI skipper Virat Kohli, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak would like to revisit the amend- India’s primary objective Chahar and W. Sundar ed constitution as per Supreme of the T20 series was to shouldering the bowling HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL Court’s August 9, 2018 order. identify the core of play- responsibilities in the SCORES Since it’s the prerogative of an ers for the T20 World Cup three-match series. elected body to call an AGM, next year. Not much was “It’s no secret that they 78 Kumar the BCCI had to wait for the achieved on that front in got reasonably an inexpe- Sangakkara (Sri newly-elected set-up under the first two games bar- rienced bowling attack. If Lanka) vs India in Ganguly to take charge at a ring the successful come- we bat well, stick to our General Body meeting in back of leggie Yuzvendra strategies we can put 2009 Mumbai on October 23. “We Chahal, who once again (From left) India bowling coach Bharat Arun, captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Ravi Shastri are in an animated their bowling attack 71 Lokesh Rahul have received a circular from proved his wicket-taking discussion during a training session in Nagpur on Saturday. — AP under pressure,” said (India) vs England in the BCCI that the AGM will be ability in the middle Domingo. held on December 1 in overs. preferred to chinaman team in Delhi and Rajkot, ponder over their team “So look, they are good 2017 Mumbai,” an office-bearer of a After Chahal and Co. Kuldeep Yadav, has kept leaving the likes of composition, especially in side but we do think that prominent state unit said on restricted Bangladesh to things tight but has not LIVE on TV Manish Pandey, Sanju the batting department if we bat up potentially, BEST BOWLING conditions of anonymity. 153 for six in Rajkot, skip- been as threatening as India vs Bangladesh Samson and Rahul where they lack the fire- we can put their bowling PERFORMANCE Among the points that the per Rohit Sharma blew Chahal. Pacer Khaleel Chahar to warm the power in comparison to attack under pressure.” 3rd T20 4-11 Mitchell members would like to revisit the opposition away with Ahmed leaked runs in on Star Sports 1, HD bench. teams like Australia and Team batting second are age-cap of 70 years, cool- a sublime 85 to level the both the games, increas- If not in Nagpur, they England. ended up as the winner in Santner (NZ) vs ing off period of three years series 1-1. Washington ing the possibility of could get an opportunity Shreyas Iyer has looked both the games, making India in 2016 after a period of six years along Sundar, Shardul Thakur partner- FROM 7 PM in the following home impressive in the limited toss all the more crucial. with curtailing powers of the who has ing Deepak Chahar on series against the West time he has spent in the “I think dew has affected 4-20 Mohammed executives including the Chief been Sunday. while, is yet to pick up a Indies next month. Even middle while K L Rahul is (the games). Toss has Nabi (Afg) vs HK in Executive Officer. However for Krunal Pandya, who has wicket though he has not when the senior players yet to make an impact, played a role, both teams 2016 any amendment in the regis- been a regular in the had much to do with the return after this series, just like rookie all-round- batting second have come tered constitution as per Indian T20 squad for a bat. Rohit fielded the same India will have plenty to er Shivam Dube. — PTI around top.” — PTI STATS: S.PERVEZ QAISER Supreme Court judge- ment on August 9, 2018, the BCCI will have to appeal to the Apex court for the particular change. Please leave Pant alone: Rohit “Obviously the old guard of BCCI wants to come back in Nagpur, Nov. 9: Stand- glovework in the second request everyone to keep ahead of him in the three power. Therefore all the princi- in India captain Rohit T20 against Bangladesh in their eyes away from Tests against South Africa pal points of Lodha Reforms Sharma on Saturday Rajkot. Rishabh Pant for a while,” at home last month only will be reviewed,” said a mem- strongly backed an He botched up a stump- skipper Rohit said. on the basis of superior ber of the state association. under-fire Rishabh ing of Liton Das with the “He is a fearless crick- glovework. — PTI Pant, urging critics to third umpire ruling that eter and we (team manage- “He is a young guy, 22, “leave him alone” as he his hands were slightly in ment) want him to have trying to make his mark in Barty crush Garcia is only trying to exe- front of the stumps, when that freedom. And if you international cricket. cute the team man- he dislodged the bails. guys take your eyes off Every move he makes on to level Fed final agement’s strategy. “You know there is a lot of him for sometime, it will the field, people start talk- Pant, whose shot talk happening about allow him to perform even ing about him. It is not Perth: Ashleigh Barty played selection has come Rishabh Pant every day, better,” added Rohit. fair. I think we should the “best match of her life” to under the scanner on every minute. I just feel Not so long ago, Pant was allow him to play his crush Caroline Garcia 6-0, 6-0 several occasions, became that he needs to be allowed the preferred choice in all cricket which actually he and haul Australia back into the centre of unwanted to do what he wants to do three formats but also wants to do,” Rohit Bangladesh players during a training session at Nagpur. contention at the Fed Cup final attention due to his poor on the field. I would Wriddhiman Saha played said. — PTI — AP Saturday after France’s Kristina Rishabh Pant Mladenovic whipped Ajla Tomljanovic. The world number one, fresh from winning the WTA Finals in BOXING OLYMPIC QUALIFIER China, came on court in Perth under pressure after the nerv- Tejaswini seals India’s 12th Olympic quota ous Tomljanovic was thrashed 6-1, 6-1. But in searing 38 Doha, Nov. 9: Veteran an individual medal, she Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) heat Tejaswini Sawant secured combined with Kajal Saini No trials, coach she kept her cool to embarrass India’s 12th Olympic and Gaayathri a stunned Garcia in a rare dou- quota in shooting but Nithyanadam to bag the ble bagel, with the missed out on a medal in team bronze. Frenchwoman having no the women’s 50m rifle 3 Sawant was third after for consistency answers to the Barty armoury in positions event in the 14th the second series but fell front of 13,000 fans. Asian Championship here behind in the later GANDHARV KAMALA | DC It left the tie evenly poised at 1- on Saturday. attempts, finishing with HYDERABAD, NOV. 9 1 ahead of Sunday’s reverse sin- Provided she is picked in an 8.8. Sawant, who also gles and a doubles clash if the final shooting squad competes in the 50m rifle The Boxing Federation of needed, with Australia target- for next year’s Tokyo prone, has won many India may be lining up a ing an eighth title and first in Games, it will be her medals, including gold at trial bout between Mary 45 years, while France are seek- maiden Olympic appear- the World Championship, Kom and Nikhat Zareen to ing a third, their first since ance, having missed the World Cup and the settle the high-profile 2003. — AFP bus in 2008, 2012 and 2016. Commonwealth Games. selection dispute but it The former world cham- In 2010, she became the may not be all about them. pion bagged the quota for world champion in the There are two more boxers Regd. No. next year’s Tokyo Games 50m rifle prone event in in fray who will vie to win by virtue of making the Munich with a world- the four-woman contest to TNENG/2010/35692 finals of the 50m rifle 3 record equalling score. be held on December 29 positions event in the She was the first Indian and 30 in New Delhi and Printed & Published by championship. Tejaswini Sawant woman shooter to win a make it to the first T. Venkateswarlu on behalf of Out of the eight finalists, cations across the three nine medals in all compe- woman final. It also gold medal at the Worlds. Olympics qualifying event Mary Kom Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited titions through the day helped secure a quota China’s Mengyao Shi and Printed at six of them were ineligi- positions of in China. Deccan Chronicle Presses situated ble for various reasons, kneeling,prone and stand- including three more gold. place as six other finalists won the gold medal with The much debated trials boxer have a single-minded at SP 3, Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, giving India one of the ing. However, in the finals, Sawant’s score was way had either booked their 457.9, while the silver in the women’s 51kg cate- dedication towards train- Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. three available quotas in Sawant fought well but above her previous best individual quotas or their went to Yesugen Oyunbat gory will have Mary Kom ing or would she/he be RNI Registration No: TN ENG/2005/14987 the event. had to be satisfied with a score in qualification in respective National of Mongolia (457.0). The pitted against three boxers worried about trials? And Ph Nos: 22254747, 22254748, 22254750, The 39-year-old from fourth-place finish. the new longer format Olympic Committees bronze and the second — gold and silver medal- what happens if the boxer 22254751 Maharashtra’s Kolhapur The seasoned Indian introduced only in this (NOC) had already available quota was won lists from the senior is injured during trials? Editor: ADITYA SINHA reached the final at fifth shot 435.8 in the finals at current Olympic cycle, exhausted their limit of by Japan's Shiori Hirata nationals, and another You lose your best boxer in position after shooting the Lusail Shooting helping her finish fifth two quotas per event. (445.9). pugilist picked by coaches that weight category to an 1171 in the 12-shot qualifi- Range. India also won and ease into the eight- Though she could not win — PTI based on her performance injury. What next? You at the national camp and send the second or the boxing league. Currently, third best but not the best Mary is No.1, Nikhat sec- boxer in that weight! So I SATWIK-CHIRAG GO DOWN TO ond, Vanlal Duati third and think we should do away a fourth one would be with the selection trials WORLD NO.1 PAIR IN SEMIS Chelsea’s sixth win on the spin named by the coaches. The and reward the consistent semifinals will see No.1 vs performer at international Fuzhou, Nov. 9: The Super 500 title at the London, Nov. 9: No.4 and No.2 vs No.3, events,” the Argentine Indian men’s doubles pair Thailand Open in August Chelsea secured a Weakened City offer Liverpool which means Mary and explained. of Satwiksairaj before reaching the finals sixth straight Premier Nikhat can only clash for “In August, 2019 both Rankireddy and Chirag at the French Open Super League win to move up chance to increase EPL lead the coveted Olympic Rafael Bergamasco (for- Shetty’s impressive run 750, played their hearts to second as the in- Qualifier spot if they make eign coach of the women’s came to an end after they out during the 40-minute form Tammy Abraham Liverpool, Nov. 9: to new heights under the final at the Trials. team) and myself suggest- lost to three-time defend- final but it was not and Christian Pulisic Liverpool have lived Pep Guardiola has BFI’s High Performance ed a road map for 2020 ing champions Marcus enough in the end. This struck to beat Crystal through many false kept Liverpool wait- Director Santiago Nieva Olympics. We proposed Fernaldi Gideon and was Satwik and Chirag’s Palace 2-0. dawns in the 29 years ing. preferred consistency over that gold and silver medal- Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo third loss this year Abraham ended since last lifting a Despite posting the trials though. “I don’t lists in the women’s and a of in the semi- against the world number Palace’s dogged defen- league title, but the third highest points believe in selection trials. medallist in the men’s cate- final of $ 700,000 China 1 pair. sive resistence with a class of 2019/20 have tally in English top It’s a mere waste of time gories at the Worlds will Open here on Saturday. The Indian duo opened simple finish from the chance to prove flight history last sea- and energy to be honest. If get a direct entry for the The world number 9 up a 7-4 lead early on but Willian’s deft through they are the real deal son with 97, Liverpool boxers want to train in first Olympics qualifiers in Indian pair lost 16-21 20-22 they lacked the angles in ball seven minutes into when champions lost out by a solitary India or overseas they will China. So, world medallists to the top seeds and world their attack as their oppo- the second half before Manchester City visit point as City backed not be able to give their 100 Amit Panghal (52kg) and number one Marcus and nents managed to enter Pulisic headed home a Anfield on Sunday. up their 100-point cam- per cent either in the gym Manish Kaushik (63kg) Kevin to bow out of the the break with a 11-9 lead loose ball 11 minutes City’s relentless paign with 98 to retain or in the ring. The constant will not have to attend tri- BWF World Tour Super after Satwik faltered with from time to seal all hunger to push the bar the title. — AFP burden of having to prove als,” he said. 750 tournament here. his return. Kevin was three points. themselves at a trial and “A spot in the rest of the This was the eighth suc- simply brilliant near the Chelsea edge a point A 4-4 draw with Ajax Blues free flowing foot- not in the ring, adds pres- six men’s categories (57kg, cessive loss for Satwik net as the Indonesian duo clear of Manchester on Tuesday took the ball under Frank sure,” Santiago told this 69kg, 75kg, 81kg, 91kg, and Chirag against the quickly jumped to 14-9. City and to within five tally of goals Chelsea’s Lampard was met with newspaper from Goa. +91kg) and all the weight Indonesian pair. The Indonesian pair of leaders Liverpool, prior 18 games this a brick wall of a Palace “Let’s say there is a major categories in women’s Satwik and Chirag, who dominated the fast-paced who host City in a season to 70 at an aver- defence for the first 45 Crystal Palace’s defender James Tomkins tournament in a month’s (51kg, 60kg, 64kg, 69kg, and had won their maiden rallies. — PTI highly-anticipated age of nearly four per minutes. (left) vies with Chelsea’s striker Tammy time and a boxer is prepar- 75kg) are up for grabs,” clash on Sunday. game. However, the — AFP Abraham — AFP ing for the same. Will the Santiago informed.