PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY SHRI ALOK KUMAR, ADVOCATE WORKING PRESIDENT, VISHVA HINDU PARISHAD ON THE NEWS REPORTS ABOUT SETTLEMENT ON RAM JANMABHOOMI ISSUE.
We have seen some press reports about a settlement on Ram Janmabhoomi issue by the Sunni Wakf Board.
The VHP wishes to make it clear that the Hindu side in RJB appeals have not been approached for and has not participated in any mediation effort after the hearing of appeals commenced in the Supreme Court. We have not even been intimated of any proposal for settlement.
We also made it clear that in an application in the first week of July 2019 we had requested the Hon’ble Supreme Court (i) to declare the Mediation as concluded and (ii) to fix a date for final hearing. This was also subsequently mentioned before the Hon’ble CJI. The Hon’ble Supreme Court had declared that the Mediation had failed on 02.08.2019. However, on 18.09.2019, on mentioning by the other side the Hon’ble Supreme Court had permitted that if any party is desirous of a settlement it may approach the Mediation Panel. The Hindu side had specifically conveyed to the Ld. Mediators that we were not interested in Mediation any further.
The VHP and the other Hindu litigants have sincerely participated in the several attempts earlier held for an amicable settlement. They all were not successful.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court has finally heard the matter, the hearings which continued for 40 working days and more than 200 hours. Reviving the mediation bogey at the fag-end of the hearing appears to be a mischief and an effort to cause confusion.
We are of the considered view that it would be in the interest of the Country and all concerned parties to now only await the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
