20 July, 2016

Oldest Litigant of Ram Janmabhoomi Dispute ‘Mohammad Hashim Ansari’ Takes Last Breath

The oldest surviving litigant of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute, Mohammad Hashim Ansari took his last breath on Wednesday morning at the age of 96. Suffering from a prolonged illness from many years, Ansari had been admitted to the intensive care unit of King George Medical University in Lucknow in June. The litigant who was involved in the disputed land case of Ayodhya since six decades, passed away in Ayodhya due to heart-related ailments.

“His health condition was not well for the past six years. He had undergone surgery too. But, today morning, he did not complain of any health problem. He was sitting in his room after taking tea. Suddenly he collapsed. His body will be buried this evening at 5 pm in Ayodhya,” said Ansari’s son Iqbal.


He was involved in the demolition case disputed structure since 1959, and was also sentenced to jail for two years for giving the call for prayer at the Masjid. He was also among seven petitioners in the Sunni Central Waqf Board’s 1961 suit for the title of Ayodhya in the court of Faizabad civil judge.

Ansari opposed to the bringing down of the disputed structure by 'Hindu Kar Sevaks' on December 6, 1992, and his house was also gutted in the riots that followed the demolition. His friendship with other Hindu litigants in the case - Ram Keval Das and Ram Chandra Paramhans of the Digambar Akhada, was very strong despite sharp difference of opinions.

He had earlier expressed unhappiness over the politicisation of the Babri Masjid case. Last year after the death of Ashok Singhal, Ansari paid condolences for his death saying that Singhal’s death was the greatest loss for Ram Mandir movement. 

Allahabad High Court in 2010 in its majority verdict allotted one-third of the disputed site in Ayodhya to Nirmohi Akahara. The other two-thirds portion has been given equally to be shared by the Waqf Board and the side representing Ram Lalla. Soon after the verdict, Ansari had called for a fresh start while citing to bury the dispute. When Modi came into power, He said that after freedom, India got the strongest leader as Modi. He said that all Muslim of India should stand with Modi.

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