Ayodhya: Muslim petitioner in Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land suit welcomes PM Modi, showers rose

By DAYANAND MOHITE | published: December 30, 2023 07:04 PM 2019-02-12T14:15:30+5:30

city : national

PM Narendra Modi received a warm welcome in Ayodhya on Saturday. Amongst those present to welcome the PM was Iqbal Ansari who is a former petitioner in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute case. The ruling in the case was passed by the Supreme Court in 2019.

Amongst hundreds who welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ayodhya on Saturday was Iqbal Ansari who has a special connection to the Ayodhya land dispute case. He was a petitioner in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land suit, a case whose judgment was passed by the Supreme Court a few years back.

Iqbal welcomes PM, showers petals

Videos showed Iqbal showering flower petals as PM Modi’s cavalcade passed through the streets of the temple town. One must note that now only was Iqbal a petitioner in the case, but his father Hashim Ansari was also a litigant. In fact he was the oldest litigant in this case. He died at the age of 95 in 2016. It was after his father’s death that Iqbal started pursuing the case.

Talking to media persons, the man who had the opportunity to shower the PM’s convoy with flower petals said, ” Ayodhya’s land is unparalleled. Today PM Modi has come to our place, it is our duty to welcome guests.” The flowers were showered upon the cars as the PM passed Paanji Tola area during a roadshow.

Ansari said that as the PM’s cavalcade passed his house, not only did he showered rose petals but his family members also joined him.

One must note that the Supreme Court had in 2019 passed an order on the long-standing dispute in Ayodhya. The apex court had said that a temple should be built at the disputed site in Ayodhya by a government-backed trust and a separate piece of land of 5 acres should be allocated for a mosque.

Ram temple in Ayodhya

Following the SC order a trust was set up by the government and now on January 22, a temple is set to be inaugurated at the site. On SaturdayPM Narendra Modi visited Ayodhya to inaugurate the newly-built Maharshi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham and the redeveloped Ayodhya Dham railway station. The PM also flagged off 2 Amrit Bharat and 6 Vande Bharat trains in the city.

The visit of the PM gains significance as it comes just ahead of the inauguration of the temple in Ayodhya in January. Top leaders of the BJP, several priests and several other dignitaries, apart from PM Modi himself are set to attend the consecration of the temple in Ayodhya in January.

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