Modi attacks Congress, says why does Kapil Sibal wants to prolong Ayodhya case

KALOL: Continuing his high decibel campaign in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hit out at the Congress over Kapil Sibal for the latter seeking deferment of hearing of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute till the 2019 General Elections.

Addressing an election rally here, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) star campaigner said, "For the last two days a top Congress leader and an illustrious lawyer has been speaking. He is free to represent whoever he wants to, that is his prerogative. But, why does he want to prolong the Ayodhya title case when all stakeholders want an early solution."

"Instead of coming clear on why he wants the Ayodhya Matter to be discussed in court after 2019, this Congress leader is busy explaining whose lawyer is he. He says he does not represent the Sunni Wakf Board, but then he should say who is he representing," the BJP leader said.

Sibal, while arguing for the Sunni Waqf Board, told the Supreme Court on December 5 that since the court's decision in the case would have "very serious ramifications", the hearing be deferred till July 2019 by which time the general election would be over.

His contention was, however, not accepted by the court which decided to hear the matter on February 8 next year.

One of the Babri Masjid litigants, Haji Mehboob, on Wednesday said Muslims want early resolution of the decades-old dispute, contradicting Sunni Waqf Board lawyer Kapil Sibal's contention that the Supreme Court hearing on the matter be deferred till after the 2019 general elections.

"Yes, Kapil Sibal is our lawyer. But he is also affiliated with a political party. His statement in the Supreme Court is wrong. He should not have said that. We want that the dispute be resolved at the earliest," Mehboob said here on the 25th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition.