Ayodhya verdict: Spiritual leader urges to maintain restraint

Spiritual leader Adhokshajanand Deo Tirth Maharaj has appealed to both Hindus and Muslims to maintain restraint after the Ayodhya case verdict later this month. The seer said celebratory procession should be avoided and no effort should be made to "belittle" the other side. "The verdict on Ayodhya may go either way. However, it is the moral responsibility of both the communities to retain the harmony India is famous for," Tirtha Maharaj told the media in Govardhan Dham in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district.

Watch: Visibility reduces on Lucknow-Ayodhya highway

Muslim Groups Say SC's Decision Should Be Respected

Several office bearers of top Muslim organisations, clerics and intellectuals from the community held a meeting on Saturday over the Ayodhya case and asserted that the Supreme Court verdict should be respected by all. In the closed-door meeting convened by Navaid Hamid, president of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, the participants resolved to maintain peace and harmony at all cost after the verdict in the Ayodhya case. Among those who were present included Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Arshad Madani, former National Commission for Minorities chairperson Wajahat Habibullah, former MP Shahid Siddiqui, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind president Sadatullah Hussaini and parliamentarians Dr Jawed and Imran Hasan.

Earlier, All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali on Friday said imams should advise Muslims to repose faith in the Constitution and judiciary and maintain communal harmony. In a statement here Maulana Khalid said, "My appeal is to every imam of various mosques to make appeal that Muslims need not feel afraid, but they should repose faith in country's Constitution and judiciary, and whatever the judgement comes, we should honour it,"

READ: Ayodhya verdict: Muslim groups say SC's decision should be respected

Supreme Court reserves verdict

The Supreme Court on October 16, reserved the verdict in the contentious and politically-sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi- Babri Masjid land dispute case. The bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, and comprising of SC judges Justices S.A. Bopde, D.Y. Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan, S. Abdul Nazeer reserved the verdict. The final verdict is likely to be pronounced on November 16, ahead of the retirement of CJI Ranjan Gogoi. 

READ: MP: No leave for police officials ahead of Ayodhya verdict

READ: Lucknow: AIMPLB organises prayer meet ahead of Ayodhya case verdict