Ayodhya case reactions: Warnings, suggestions and an open challenge

Ayodhya case: A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said an "appropriate bench" will decide in January next year the future course of hearing on the appeals filed against the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Babri Masjid-Ram temple dispute case.

The Supreme Court directed the listing of the Ayodhya title suit to January 2019.

NEW DELHI: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who is also a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, on Monday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring an ordinance for construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Reacting to statements from the VHP and some BJP leaders, the Hyderabad MP said: "Why don't they bring it (ordinance on Ram temple)? Let them do it. Every time they are threatening that they will bring an ordinance. Every Tom, Dick & Harry of BJP, RSS, VHP says this. Do it. You are in power. I challenge you to do it. Let us see." Owaisi's statement comes after the VHP said it cannot wait till "eternity" for court verdict in the decades-long dispute and the Centre should bring a law to end the deadlock. Alok Kumar, the right-wing outfit's international working president said: "The Supreme court has again postponed the hearing. Our strong belief now says it is not appropriate to keep waiting eternally." Also, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that Hindus are running out of patience on the Ram temple issue. "Shri Ram" is the cornerstone of the faith of the Hindus, Singh said. "Had (Jawaharlal) Nehru wanted, the issue of Ram temple would not have become controversial. The Congress blocked a solution then. And when the court was to take a call on the issue now, Congress leader Kapil Sibal did the same," he said. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said Supreme Court direction the listing of the Ayodhya title suit to January 2019 doesn't send a good message. "I don't want to comment since it's the decision of Supreme Court. However, the adjournment of hearing doesn't send a good message," Maurya said. Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday accused the BJP of polarising views on the Ram Temple issue ahead of Lok Sabha polls and said the Ayodhya dispute was "a familiar story". "Every five years before elections, BJP tries to polarise views on Ram Mandir. Congress party's position is that the matter is before the Supreme Court and everyone should wait until SC decides... I don't think we should jump the gun," he said. Earlier in the day a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said an "appropriate bench" will decide in January next year the future course of hearing on the appeals filed against the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case. We have our own priorities. Whether the case will come in January, February or March, it will be for the appropriate bench to decide," CJI Gogoi said as a lawyer urged the court to decide on the dates. Fourteen appeals have been filed against the high court judgement, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77 acres of land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.