I was in Ayodhya last month in connection with a story on Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute, for a publication. When you talk of the temple dispute, you can’t afford to ignore the voice of Iqbal Ansari, the main litigant in the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid title suit. His father, Hashim Ansari, fought for the demolished mosque until he died in 2016.
When I first called him and sought his time for a brief interview, he gave me his address and said I could come any time at my convenience. As I drove to his home, I thought to myself what a popular figure Ansari has become, given the immense media exposure he gets. I stopped in front of an ordinary, white-washed, one storey building which proudly flaunted Ansari’s name plate, only to find a police constable who seemed to be on the most boring assignment of his career-sitting in front of the house.
When I introduced myself, a boy was summoned and sent for Iqbal, who, as I later learnt, was getting his auto repaired in a nearby ground. We spoke on topics ranging from his father’s struggle for the mosque and the politics around it, to his personal life. Here are the excerpts of my discussion with him:
What do you think of the Babri mosque demolition?
See, people have been putting idols on lands they intend to grab, claiming God has emerged there. It has been happening since ages. Same happened with Babri Masjid. Some people put idols over night and claimed Lord Ram had emerged there. This is pure case of land-grab. VHP made an issue of out it, and the Congress politicised it.
Tell me about the challenges your family faced in the course of this dispute.
There are none. (Instead of talking about what his family faced, he keeps telling me about the demolition and the rioting by Karsewaks. He clearly doesn’t understand my question, despite repeating it several times.)
Was your family ever threatened for being the litigant in this case?
Yes, we did get some threatening letters, latest being in October. The police have filed an FIR and detained some persons.
How has your relationship with local Hindus and mahants been?
We share a very good relationship, like you see anywhere else across the country. The culture of Ayodhya is an example for the rest of the world. Hindus are very kind. Even if an ant accidentally gets killed by them, they chant the name of Lord Ram. We have been living very peacefully together. The people who come here from outside of Ayodhya frighten us. They don’t understand the kind of bond Hindus and Muslims share here; sometimes they don’t even understand our language. And most importantly they happen to be driven by hate against Muslims.
I heard your father shared a very good relationship with some mahants.
Yes, you heard it right. My father had a very good bond with some of the mahants. For instance, mahant Gyan Das and my father would even go to the court in the same car, for the same case.
What do you do for living?
I have two taxis.
How do you manage your expenses for this case?
I don’t spend a single penny on this case. All expenses are borne by the Babri Masjid Action Committee.
What would your future course of action be?
We have full faith in the judiciary. We’ll see what comes out of the Supreme Court hearings.
What if the Centre brings in an ordinance as being demanded by some organizations?
We’ll see. We don’t decide anything in advance like VHP does. We take decisions as situation arises.
What is your message to the countrymen?
Hindus and Muslims are children of Bharat Mata. Both have equal rights. How could a place of worship be brought down, in a secular country? This is against our Constitution itself. If Hindu-Muslims are to live peacefully, we must restore the mosque or at least find a viable solution.
The post Interview With Iqbal Ansari, Main Litigant In The Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir Title Suit appeared first and originally on Youth Ki Awaaz and is a copyright of the same. Please do not republish.