CJI meets UP Chief Secretary, DGP ahead of Ayodhya verdict

New Delhi, Nov. 8 (IANS/PTI): In an unprecedented step ahead of the crucial Ayodhya title dispute judgement, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Friday held a highly confidential meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP), to apparently take stock of the law and order situation. According to sources, three judges from the five-member Ayodhya bench - Chief Justice Gogoi, Chief Justice-designate S A Bobde and Justice Ashok Bhushan attended the meeting with the Chief Secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari and the DGP. It is learnt the discussion mainly focussed on the law and order situation in the state in view of the judgement, which is expected any time next week. "The meeting between the judges and the state officials began at 11.30 a.m. and ended at 1.00 p.m.," said a source familiar with the development. Sources said the judges asked the state officials if they needed any assistance in the form of an order to strengthen the law and order situation. The 40-day hearing in the 70-year-old dispute concluded on October 17 and the bench is expected to pronounce the judgement before November 17, the day of retirement of Chief Justice Gogoi.

People want amicable solution to Ayodhya case, say they want to leave past behind

Rajesh Kumar, a small-time farmer, has spent most of his life amid the uncertainty that followed the Babri Masjid demolition, but he says that the people want to move on now and leave the past behind. Kumar is not alone, he and several others seem tired of answering questions about the controversial issue and now want an amicable settle of the dispute. Shiv Sakal, who lives near Badhi Devkali bypass in Ayodhya, said, "I sincerely pray to Lord Ram that this dispute be resolved at earliest, so that the element of uncertainty is gone from our minds once and for all. Many of my relatives who live in Bundelkhand are sceptical of coming to Ayodhya and say that they will come here only after the Supreme Court judgement is delivered next week. Ramdas, who runs a tea shop in Ahmadpur area of Barabanki also expresses a similar view. "Whenever any person stops here to have a 'kulhad' of tea, they invariably start discussing the outcome of the case with me. With folded hands I only say 'hoi so jo Ram rachee raakhaa' (whatever Lord Ram has written for us, only that will happen)." "But, I feel that this issue has been going on for a long time, and it must be resolved at the earliest," he said. With the town having been in the limelight for decades over the issue, most people are reluctant to speak to reporters about the verdict, but the matter is on their minds. Besides the discussions in tea shops and roadside eateries, men and women can be heard talking about it as they go about their daily business. Mahendra Singh, a resident of Ram Sanehi Ghat in Barabanki who works in Ayodhya, said, "I take a bus to the temple to reach work everyday. The discussion after a point of time always comes to the Ayodhya dispute and the much-awaited judgment." "I frequently speak to my in-laws who live in Ayodhya and all of us feel that this must be resolved soon," he says as he waits for the bus. At a betel shop in Rasauli in Barabanki district, the owner can be heard scolding his young nephew who asks him to speculate about the court decision. "Whatever will happen in the Ayodhya will be known to us in the next week. Your focus should be the task assigned to you," he says. The farmer, Rajesh Kumar, says, "I read recently in local newspapers that the judgement on Ayodhya issue will be out soon. I hope that there is no more delay, we want to leave the past behind." People living in Ayodhya say that even though they are eagerly anticipating the verdict, normalcy is prevailing in the town. Farooq, 25, who drives small commercial vehicles to earn a living said, "I live close to Ram Janmabhoomi police station and life seems to be normal. At least I do not feel terrorised or that I'm living in an atmosphere of fear." Mohammad Mujib Khan (74), who runs a shoe shop in the same area says that the decision of the Supreme Court will be accepted by everyone. "In fact, my Hindu brothers have told me not to leave my place when the judgement is delivered," he says as he plays with his young grandson.