Lucknow/Ayodhya/New Delhi: Mohammed Hashim Ansari, the oldest litigant in the Babri Masjid case, has accused Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan of seeking to take political advantage of the issue and said he will not pursue the case any further.
Ansari’s remarks triggered political reactions, with the Bharatiya Janata Party welcoming them and the Bahujan Samaj Party demanding a probe into the circumstances in which he made the comments.
Ansari said he was fed up with the politicisation of the issue.
“Whether it is Babri masjid or Ram Janmabhoomi, it has become a battleground of politics. I do not want to befool Hindus or Muslims. I will not pursue the Babri Masjid case at any cost,” he said.
Ansari also said he will not take part in any programme on December 6, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid’s demolition.
He hit out at Azam Khan, a minister in the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh, and said: “I file the case and political advantage is taken by Azam Khan. Hence, I will not pursue it. Let Azam Khan fight it.”
Ansari asked if Azam Khan could visit temples in Chitrakoot, why could he not visit Ayodhya.
In remarks to Times Now channel, Ansari said he was ready to talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.
Zafaryab Jilani, legal advisor to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said Ansari’s recusal from the case would not have much effect.
IANS
