The highly charged Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute formally goes to the negotiating table with the Supreme Court tasking a 3-member panel to complete the mediation process in eight weeks. The decision means that the court has considered the religious sentiment in the case over and above the legal aspect of the 2.77-acre land dispute. The sensitivity of the case is reflected in the court’s observation of giving mediation a shot even if there was only one per cent chance of a breakthrough.
However, while the issue now goes to the table, the goalposts remain unchanged and the religious sentiment will continue to be the sole factor around which all negotiations will revolve. The core questions will remain the same. Will the Muslim faction concede that the spot on which the Babri Masjid stood was the birthplace of Ram? And can the Hindus proceed without this compromise?
On the political side, the Supreme Court has virtually pulled the brakes on the government’s ambitions of milking this issue to its political advantage. At a time when the government was growing restless ahead of the fast approaching Lok Sabha elections and the allies pushing for an ordinance on the issue, the court decision has literally poured cold water on government’s Ayodhya ambitions.
The first signs of discontent within the Muslims emerged soon after the court announced the three-member mediation team headed by Fakkir Mohammed Ibrahim Kalifulla, a retired Supreme Court judge. Questions have been raised over ‘neutrality’ of the team which also includes spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Sri Sri is known to be propagating the construction of a grand temple and has even made statements that if Muslims don’t give up their claim on Ayodhya, India may turn into another Syria.
Sri Sri’s inclusion may have been considered for the fact that he was in the midst of the issue for several years, including the mediation initiated in 2017 involving Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Having tested the waters already, Sri Sri will be in a far better position to understand the roadblocks while taking fresh initiatives in a bid to break new ground, leaving behind contentious and non-negotiable areas.
Going into the process, the Muslim community may still be left with an uneasy feeling. Sri Sri will be looked at with suspicion of walking the talk of keeping aside egos and differences while upholding the spirit of honouring and accommodating the sentiments of the communities involved.
The mediation process is a welcome step and raises hopes of an amicable settlement to a nearly 70-year-old issue. If successful, it could be not only path-breaking but will set a precedent for other sensitive cases which are caught in endless legal hassles for decades.
