THE Indian-American community on Saturday lauded the Supreme Court’s historic verdict in the Ayodhya case, saying the decision in the decades-old land dispute is equally a victory for both Hindus and Muslims. The Indian Supreme Court in a unanimous verdict on Saturday cleared the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya, and directed the Centre to allot a 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque. A State Department spokesperson said the US is following the announcement of the Ayodhya verdict.

 

“We appreciate the statements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Indian leaders calling on all parties to maintain peace and avoid inflammatory rhetoric,” the spokesperson said. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) said in a statement, “the ruling by the Indian Supreme Court is equally a victory for Hindus and Muslims, as it is for archaeologists, historians, and the Indian legal system.”

 

There was no immediate reaction from the Muslim-American groups in the US. “This balanced judgement sets precedent for all the future disputes and shows the maturity of the Indian judicial system to resolve a challenging situations in a calm, collected and fair manner,” said the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), USA in a statement.

 

In a statement, FIIDS thanked the Supreme Court of India for delivering a historic verdict on Ayodhya Ram Temple, one of the most sensitive issues of India.