A dream come true, says former Uttar Pradesh CM Kalyan Singh on Ayodhya verdict
Lucknow, Nov 11: BJP leader Kalyan Singh, who was the Uttar Pradesh chief minister when the Babri Masjid was demolished, has hailed the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict, saying it was all-inclusive and should not be seen as anyone's victory or defeat.
He said the judgment on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute was "all-inclusive" and has been welcomed by all .
It has brought the curtains down on the 500-year-old dispute," Singh said on Monday.
The SC on Saturday ruled in favour of the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site.
It also ordered the allocation of an alternative five-acre plot elsewhere in Ayodhya for a mosque to replace the one demolished by kar sevaks in December 1992, when Kalyan Singh was chief minister.
"The verdict should not be taken as a win or defeat. It is a matter of faith for all and there should be no politics over it, he said.
The apex court has very wisely not given the rights to the land to an individual," he added.
The BJP veteran predicted that the temple could be constructed by 2022 or 2023.
"I am a Ram bhakt and have been associated with it since long. Like all countrymen, I also want a temple that has unparalleled grandeur at the birthplace of Lord Ram, with the decks finally cleared for construction of Ram temple, it was the realization of a dream for him, he said.
Singh, who recently rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party after completing his term as Rajasthan governor, hoped that the temple will bring employment opportunities.
He said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will develop Ayodhya into a special pilgrim centre, giving in a place on the world map.
Kalyan Singh faces a case in a special CBI court over criminal conspiracy to demolish the Babri mosque. He said so far seven witnesses have deposed in but refused to comment further.
Asked to comment on the Supreme Court observation on the demolition of the mosque, Singh said he paid the price for not maintaining law and order by tendering his resignation the same day and accepting moral responsibility.
The judgment said the demolition was a serious violation of the rule of law.
Singh, who has been visiting Ayodhya often, said he planned to go there again but the date will be decided later.
Asked who would lay the foundation stone for the Ram temple, he said it could be Prime Minister Narendra Modi or anyone else picked by the trust to be set up on the directions of the apex court.
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
