Ayodhya as Cultural Smart City: A Mediation Proposal for the Mosque-Temple Dispute
This article was first published in www.thewire.in and is written by Abusaleh Shariff
Given the well-known defects of the Indian democratic system, now compounded by the fact that the political winners are hell bent on imposing a unitary stream of ideas on anyone and everyone, the judiciary’s biggest challenge is to stand firm as an independent arbiter of the rule of law.
Even though prosecutions for the 1992 crime of demolishing the Babri Masjid are hanging fire, the Supreme Court earlier this year decided to explore the possibility of a mediated resolution to the Ayodhya dispute. Significantly, the court’s push for mediation came against the backdrop of leaders from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party declaring that they are prepared to do what it takes to ensure that a Ram temple is built at the disputed site regardless of what the court says.
For several months now, a small team of court-appointed mediators have been meeting with the stakeholders to the case to explore the possibility of an out-of-court settlement. In line with the apex court’s directions, the process has been conducted behind closed doors. No information about the progress, or lack thereof, has leaked so far.
On Thursday, the court asked the three member panel to submit a report by July 18. This news has once again revived interest in the Ayodhya issue itself, and in what the possible contours of a just and honourable settlement could be.
The entangled dispute is the result of an admixture of facts, beliefs, truths and even lies, all at the same time. The situation, as it stands today, would not have emerged if the Babri mosque had not been demolished on December 6, 1992. The perpetrators of the demolition have not been punished so far, and despite the court’s directions, there is no sign that the case involving them is being actively pursued. At stake are the garima and maryada of a nation, its identity in the globalised world, and all of its 1.35 billion citizens. Yet the lack of political, media and even judicial interest in the crime that was committed is manifest.
The solution
There is no problem in the world which cannot be settled through negotiation. It is the duty of every citizen of this nation to strive for such a solution, even if it is through the process of mediation. The process is important, not the people involved in the mediation. It does not really matter who is mediating, as long as they pursue prudent, logical and democratic steps; and provided the government of the day is open to implement the negotiated elements through budgetary allocations and appropriate legal backing.
In our view, the conditions precedent to any mediated settlement must include the following:
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The criminal case that pertains to the Babri masjid demolition must be hastened and a decision must precede the ‘mediated compromise’.
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A national legislation must be passed making it a criminal act to demand any repeat of the same process of demolishing or removing a pre-existing mosque, be it in Mathura or in Varanasi, two sites that the Sangh parivar has spoken of in the past.
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The mediated compromise formula must be accepted, endorsed and kept in abeyance until the criminal case is decided.
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No individual found guilty of having conspired to demolish the Babri masjid, or any organisation he or she has been a part of, can play any role in the management or administration of the temple or the Ayodhya smart city project, which is explained below.
Mediated formula
The whole town of Ayodhya must be declared a ‘National Cultural Smart City’, directly financed and managed by the Central government. It should not be administered by the state government. Here are some other suggestions.
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The Central government must create a department to manage the Ayodhya smart city within the Union home ministry.
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The smart city’s planning must be overseen by the best city planners and architects, from around India and abroad.
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The planning can create a space such as the one at Rajpath in New Delhi.
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The Ram temple construction can take place at the very site where the idol of Ram Lalla is now worshiped. All three parts to the disputed land, currently apportioned on a one-third basis between the ‘Hindu’ side, the ‘Muslim’ side and the Nirmohi Akhara, must be assigned to the temple.
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A broad open space should be beautified in the form of parks, lakes, museums, libraries, playgrounds, visitor centres and markets for cultural and traditional products and so on.
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At the end of the other side of this open space, a beautiful mosque designed to suit the architecture of the smart city should be constructed. It can be a modern artistic structure.
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The whole smart city must be managed by a body (managing committee) of 100 members. Women must form at least one third of these members.
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The Hindu community must be represented by 70 members in this committee.
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25 members must be Muslims, representing local areas and also drawn from all major states of India. Women must form at least one third of these members.
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The remaining five members must belong to recognised minorities other than Muslims.
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The minorities will dedicate their services to both the construction, maintenance and development of the Ayodhya smart city – the cultural capital of India. Muslims from all over India will lend their services to the communities all over the smart city.
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Another body of experts and advisors is created so that representation is given to citizens from across India and even abroad.
This smart city model will become an example for all cities, towns and villages to follow. There cannot be a better administration in which all citizens join ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ to protect the glory of the Indian ethos.
Abusaleh Shariff (ashariff@usindiapolicy.org) is chief scholar at the US-India Policy Institute. Views expressed are his own and do not represent any institution or organisation he belongs.
This article was first published in www.thewire.in and is written by Abusaleh Shariff
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India needs steady hand at the wheel but has 'compromised PM': Rahul
New Delhi (PTI): A day after a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in international waters off Sri Lanka's coast, the Congress on Thursday questioned the government's silence with Rahul Gandhi saying that while the country needed a steady hand at the wheel, it has a "compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomy".
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Modi government's "reckless abdication" of India's strategic and national interests is there for all to see.
"An Iranian ship, a guest of India was returning, unarmed from the International Fleet Review 2026, hosted by us, and was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). No statement of concern or condolence. PM Modi remains mute," Kharge said on X.
"Why lecture us on the doctrines of MAHASAGAR and India being a 'Net Security Provider' in the IOR, when you can’t react on what is happening in your own backyard? As many as 38 Indian Flag commercial ships along with 1100 sailors are stuck in Gulf of Hormuz," he said.
"Indian sailors, including Captain Ashish Kumar have reportedly died. Why is there no maritime rescue or relief operation in place? You say only 25 days of crude and oil stocks left. With rising oil prices, what is our energy contingency plan, especially in the wake of GOI virtually accepting the demand to stop import of Russian oil? What about the trade of other key commodities with the gulf countries?" the Congress chief said.
As per MEA statement on March 3, "some Indian nationals have lost their lives or are missing", he said.
"There are one crore Indians in the gulf region countries. Medical students are releasing desperate video messages seeking help. How is the GOI securing their well-being? Is there any evacuation plan in place from the affected areas?" Kharge said.
"Clearly, Modi Ji's SURRENDER is both political and moral! It demeans India’s core national interests and destroys our foreign policy carefully and painstakingly built and followed by successive governments over the years!" Kharge said.
Gandhi said the world has entered a volatile phase and "stormy seas lie ahead"
"India's oil supplies are under threat, with more than 40% of our imports transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The situation is even worse for LPG and LNG," he said on X.
"The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the Prime Minister has said nothing," Gandhi said.
At a moment like this, India needs a steady hand at the wheel, he said.
"Instead, India has a compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomy," Gandhi alleged.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also said maybe it should not be surprising since the Modi government has still not broken its silence over the targeted assassinations in Iran.
In a significant escalation of the West Asia crisis, a US submarine on Wednesday torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in international waters off Sri Lanka's coast when it was returning after participating in the Milan naval exercise, a multilateral wargame hosted by India.
In a post on X, Ramesh said the Indian Navy's flagship multilateral exercise, MILAN, was first held in 1995 and the 13th edition was held in Visakhapatnam from February 19 to February 25, 2026 with 18 warships from other countries, including the USA and Iran participating.
The exercise was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Ramesh pointed out.
"This makes yesterday's sinking of the Iranian warship that took part in the Milan exercise by a US Navy submarine in the Indian Ocean some 40 nautical miles south of Galle in Sri Lanka all the more extraordinary. The Iranian warship was on its way back home," he said.
This US action has enormous implications for India as well and it is shocking that there has been no official response to it till now, Ramesh said.
"Maybe it should not be surprising since the Modi government has still not broken its silence over the targeted assassinations in Iran. Never before has the Indian government looked so timid and fearful," the Congress leader said.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, confirming the strike, said at a Pentagon media briefing that it was the first sinking of an enemy warship by a torpedo since World War II.
The Associated Press, quoting the Sri Lankan Navy, reported that 87 bodies were recovered and that 32 people were rescued following the sinking of the warship IRIS Dena.
The incident marks a major escalation of the conflict between the US and Iran outside of the Persian Gulf and throws up questions relating to maritime security in the Indian Ocean that is largely considered as the backyard of the Indian Navy.
The US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Following the military offensive, Iran has carried out a wave of attacks mainly targeting Israel and American military bases in several Gulf countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
In the last few days, the conflict has widened significantly with attacks and counter-attacks by both sides.
India has called for resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
