After prolonged wait of six decades the verdict on Babri Masjid is out. It has surprised one and all, gladdened the hearts of Sangh Parivar adherents and shocked beyond imagination the Muslim community which had pinned its hopes on the sagacity of Indian judiciary. The verdict has been criticised severely by intellectuals, legal luminaries and historians. It is being said that the court should not have given precedence to the unsubstantiated faith of a few over the hard facts and the clear evidence placed before it.
Rajeev Dhawan has called the verdict Panchayati justice which takes away the legal rights of Muslims. The historians Irfan Habib and D. N. Jha are complaining that historical evidence has been ignored. Archaeologists are annoyed that more weight has been given to belief than archaeological findings.
The story of Babri Masjid is a simple one, of a series of objectionable, illegal and criminal acts: Surreptitious installation of idols in December 1949 in the 400 years old mosque where regular namaz was being performed, whipping up of religious frenzy by communal outfits, a rath yatra to fish for votes in the troubled waters and finally the criminal destruction of the historical house of God. To quote Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma it was the most shameful act after murder of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi.
Justice Liberhan commission has given the details of violent events leading to the demolition of the Masjid and specifically named the culprits but still they are roaming free and law has to take its course to punish them. The law enforcing apparatus is doing its job leisurely like a slow moving and meandering river. It was good that Supreme Court refused to stop the pronouncement of Allahabad verdict as it was evident that no party was ready for any out of the court settlement. The ground realities remaining the same now it is certain that the case will go to Supreme Court. It may take a few years to get the final judgment of the highest court of the country.
One positive aspect of present day India is that the citizens of our country have become immensely mature and are not ready to be again carried away by sentiments as it happened 18 years ago. The politicians of the country have sensed the fact that 2010 is not 1992. Indian has moved on and it citizens are more conscious about their responsibilities. It is also a welcome sign that politician also have shown greater restraint and desisted from making provocative statement. The fact that there was no trouble anywhere in the country after the Allahabad verdict proves that days of communal polarisation are almost over.
As regards Muslims, in spite of feeling that justice has not been done to their case, they have categorically stated that they would respect the final verdict and abide by law. Now it is over to Supreme Court with the hope that it will do justice, full justice and nothing but justice.