Centre cannot take credit for Ayodhya verdict: Uddhav Thackeray

Lucknow : Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said that Centre must not take the credit for Ayodhya verdict that Supreme Court pronounced on Saturday at 11:00AM.

"We had requested the government to make a law on construction of Ram Temple (in Ayodhya) but the government did not do that. Now, when the SC is going to pronounce the verdict, the government can't take credit for it (even if the verdict favours the pro-temple side)," Thackeray said.

The Supreme Court ruled that the disputed land in Ayodhya must be given to Hindus and Muslims will be given an alternative piece of land in Ayodhya for the construction of the mosque.

The Centre has been asked to take over the land for now and constitute a trust within three months to look after the construction of Ram temple on the site.

Delivering the verdict, the Supreme Court of India quoted what the Archeological Survey of India has concluded.

# The Disputed structure was not made over a vacant land; according to the evidences produced by the ASI, people could be seen offering their prayers at the outer courtyard. There was a consistent pattern of worship by Hindus in the outer courtyard.

The judgment was reserved by the bench on October 16, a 40-day long daily trial that had started on August 6.

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Chief Justice-designate Justice SA Bobde, Justice Ashok Bhushan, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice SA Nazeer delivered the verdict at 11:00AM.

Hindus believe the 16th-century Babri Masjid was built over a temple dedicated to Hindu god Ram, whose birthplace is also considered to be at the site.

The mosque was demolished by a mob of thousands in 1992, triggering a cycle of violence and riots across India.

All states and Union Territories have been put on high alert. Section 144 has been imposed in the whole of Uttar Pradesh.