Ayodhya verdict best in given circumstances: Digvijaya Singh

NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh has said that the Allahabad high court’s judgement in the Ayodhya title suit was the best in the given circumstances.

Mr Singh, who has been arguing for a tough response to the politics of the Sangh parivar, said, in the present circumstances, there couldn’t have been a better judgement as it has recognised the rights of both the Hindus and the Muslims over the disputed site.

Mr Singh, who saw the judgement as a significant step in the direction of a reconciliation, told a TV channel that vacating the make-shift temple was in any case not a practical solution. “The idols have been placed there. It became an issue that could lead to more dispute if the idols are disturbed. In the present circumstances there couldn’t have been a better judgement,” Mr Singh said.

The statements of Mr Singh is significant as it brings to the fore the party’s difficulties in dealing with the judgement and its fallout. While on the judgement day, the party spokesman welcomed the high court verdict, the Congress steering committee later underlined that the high court verdict was not the final word on the issue. “We must now await the final decision of the Supreme Court as and when the appeal is filed,” a resolution adopted by the Congress steering panel had noted.

Although Mr Singh has travelled much beyond this stated position of Congress, political observers feel that his statements only emphasise the anxiety in the party to stick to a middle-ground position. This is critical to ensure that both sides do not get an opportunity to work on the feelings of the easy-to-offend sections in their ranks.

There is apprehension in Congress that parties like the Samajwadi Party will use the issue to fuel the Muslim angst against the verdict. Although a section of the community leaders are backing these attempts, it is yet to find any disturbing manifestations. RSS’ decision to play down the issue is also a matter of relief for the Centre. It has said that it will not back any legal effort to deny Muslims one-third of the area granted by the high court order.