In the end the Allahabad High Court?s verdict on the Ayodhya title suit was one which pleased and displeased all parties involved in equal measure. Both the Sunni Waqf Board and the Hindu Mahasabha have indicated they will appeal the verdict in the Supreme Court. When litigants on both sides want to appeal a verdict, this means a crisis that could come from an all-or-nothing reading of the verdict, has been averted.
Politically, the Sangh Parivar and the BJP appear happy that their original contention, that the Babri Masjid was built on the Ram Janmasthan has been upheld by the court. ?This verdict that facilitates the building of a magnificent temple for Maryada purushottam Ram, should not be seen by society as a victory to any group or defeat of the other. Our joy and happiness should find expression in a controlled, peaceful manner within the limits of the law,? RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat said in a statement right after the verdict.
The BJP which had been struggling with its attitude to the impending verdict, appeared pleased at what it termed as a ?positive verdict.? A section of the party which advocated that the time was ripe for some distance from the events of 1992, and the move to a more centrist position in Indian politics will now find a more strident voice in the party.
The Congress which appeared a little taken aback by the the socio-legal judgement appealed for peace. The brevity of the Congress? media cell in charge, Janardan Dwivedi?s statement saying ?we appeal for communal harmony? made it plain that the party would have to find a way of reconciling the judgement and its plans for revival in Uttar Pradesh, dependent crucially on both upper caste and minority votes.
An interesting fact which also emerged from the judgement was the ascension of the Nirmohi Akhada as one of the land suit holders, and the near disappearance of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas. The Nirmohi Akhara has long been tacitly acknowledged as the Hindu fringe of the Congress while the Nyas owes loyalty to the Sangh Parivar. That political battle is still on.
For Mayawati, the judgement allowed her to demonstrate that she was a tough administrator, despite, as she put it, ?neglect by the Central government in providing forces to maintain law and order.?