Author: Press Trust of India
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: May 12, 2003
URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_251640,0008.htm
The Centre on Monday claimed before
the Liberhan Commission that the disputed site in Ayodhya was the birthplace
of Lord Ram and maintained that the only dispute was whether a temple existed
there before the construction of mosque.
"It is admitted by one and all that
the site in dispute is the Ram janmasthan (birthplace of Lord Ram). The
only dispute is whether there existed a temple which was demolished and
a mosque was built," Centre's counsel Lala Ram Gupta told the Commission
probing the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya on December
6, 1992.
Opening the final arguments, he
said it was also an undisputed fact that the structure was built by Mir
Baqi, an army commander of Mughal Emperor Babar in 1528.
However, Gupta said, on the basis
of the revenue records and the evidence which has come before the commission
as well as the White Paper of the Government on Ayodhya it was clear that
the disputed site was the janmasthan.
Earlier, the counsel specified that
the Centre's submissions will revolve around two parts -- with the first
one covering the period from 1528 AD to December 1989 and the second and
crucial part covering the period thereafter till the demolition of the
structure.
Contending that the idol was being
worshipped regularly, he said it was shifted from Ram Chabutra to the domes
in December, 1949.
Prior to the shifting of the idol,
it was worshipped on the Ram Chabutra, he said.
The Commission particularly asked
the Centre's counsel to first specify the undisputed facts.
