the goan I network
PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant hailed the verdict on the Ayodhya dispute and said that the Supreme Court’s judgement on the decades-long dispute between Hindus and Muslims should be respected by all.
Reacting to the judgement, Sawant said irrespective of caste and creed the people of Goa should now work for unity and not allow this decades-old Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute to become a cause of any division henceforth.
He said, although the administration had invoked section 144 of CrPC across the State he was confident that the situation would not take any untoward turn since Goa and Goans were known for communal harmony.
Saying that imposition of section 144 was only a precautionary measure, the chief minister appealed to all political and religious leaders to now work for amity.
On the other side of the political spectrum meanwhile, senior leaders of the Congress also hailed the Supreme Court judgement on the Ayodhya dispute.
Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat said the Congress party respects the verdict and called for peace.
“The @INCIndia respects the verdict of the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya case. All parties concerned and all communities should abide by the secular values and spirit of fraternity enshrined in our Constitution and should maintain peace and harmony. @INCGoa” Kamat, a former chief minister and the only one to serve a full five-year term, said in a post on his official Twitter handle.
Kamat was also joined by his senior party leader Ramakant Khalap to hail the judgement.
Khalap’s immediate reaction to the verdict was “Jai Shri Ram”.
A former union law minister who served under two Prime Ministers - H D Deve Gowda and the late Indra Kumar Gujral - said the Supreme Court verdict was a “win-win” for both Hindus and Muslims.
“Hindus can now build a temple at the disputed site under auspices of a Trust and Muslims can build a mosque in a five-acre plot nearby. This is a win-win situation for all,” Khalap said.
