Manmohan Singh appeals for peace after Ayodhya Verdict

NEW DELHI - The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday reacting to the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya-Ramjanambhoomi title issue appealed to the countrymen to maintain peace and harmony irrespective of the nature of the judgement.

“I think whatever be the nature of judgement, I think everyone should make every effort to maintain peace, harmony and tranquility in the country,” said Dr Singh, while addressing the media after releasing a book at his residence here today.

In view of the sensitive judgement on Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title issue to be delivered by Allahabad High Court on Thursday, Dr Singh said his message was contained in the appeal issued by Cabinet over a week back.

Earlier today, Union Law and Justice Minister M. Veerappa Moily said that the Central Government has maintained secular, impartial stand and will continue to do so

Addressing the media, Moily said: ” The apex court has cleared the way for the verdict in the case by clearly spelling out certainty of the matter.”

“I am confident that the people of India are mature enough to maintain equilibrium. Anybody can come to the Supreme Court. As far as the government is concerned, we have maintained secular, impartial stand and will continue to do so,” he added.

Saying that nobody wants uncertainty prolonged, Moily said: “The government always lent support for compromise.

He further said that both the sides have the right to appeal against the judgement in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave its nod to the court’s Lucknow Bench to go ahead with its announcement of the judgment in the case, as it rejected an appeal that sought to defer the Allahabad Court’s verdict on Ayodhya-Ramjanambhoomi title issue.

“Having considered in detail the arguments of the parties, we are of the view that the special leave petition (SLP) has to be dismissed. Accordingly, the SLP stands dismissed,” said the apex court’s three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia in a brief order.

The court’s order came after two hours of arguments on a plea for the deferment of the judgement by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court filed by a retired bureaucrat Ramesh Chandra Tripathi seeking time for working out an out-of-court settlement.

The Lucknow Bench will announce its verdict on the Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid title case on Thursday at 3.30 p.m. (ANI)