Only court will decide Ayodhya issue: AIMPLB

NEW DELHI: Ayodhya issue cannot be resolved by bringing a legislation and would be decided only by court, All India Muslim Personal Law Board today said after VHP and some BJP leaders demanded that the government step in to build Ram temple.

"It has been said that a legislation should be brought in Parliament to build a Ram temple but it is not possible because the matter is before the apex court. The matter will not be resolved through legislative means but by the court," Board's spokesman Abdul Rahim Qureshi said.

The apex Muslim body stressed that the matter was subjudice and it will accept the decision of the court.

"The matter is before the Supreme Court and whatever verdict it gives will be acceptable to us," he said.

Raking up the Ram temple issue, BJP MP Vinay Katiyar who was the face of the Ayodhya movement of 1990s, had recently said the Modi government should "move to resolve" the matter without waiting for the Supreme Court verdict.

He said the government should address the issue either through legislation or talks, fulfilling the BJP's promise.

Katiyar, now a Rajya Sabha member, earlier represented Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency, under which Ayodhya falls.

Taking a dig at Katiyar, Qureshi said the BJP leader was making such statements to gain attention after he was sidelined in government formation at the Centre.

"It appears Katiyar wanted some position in the government which he did not get. Now, he wants some attention. But we do not give importance to such statements," he said.

He also recalled Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's statement that it was not possible to bring a legislation on the issue as the government does not have the numbers in Rajya Sabha.

He also ruled out talks for any out of court settlement. "Talk to whom? How can we talk to those who are not ready to listen," he said.

Asked how will the Board respond if the government itself takes an initiative for talks on the issue, he said, "We cannot say now as to what will happen. Anyway, we don't have much expectations from this government".