Timeline Refresh
'I stand vindicated, and feel deeply blessed, that the Supreme Court has given its unanimous verdict paving the way for the construction of a magnificent temple for Lord Ram at Ram Janmabhhomi in Ayodhya.
'This is a moment of fulfilment for me because God Almighty had given me an opportunity to make my own humble contribution to the mass movement, the biggest since Indias Freedom Movement, aimed at the outcome which the Supreme Courts verdict today has made possible.
'I have always stressed that Ram and Ramayana occupy an esteemed place in Indias cultural and civilisational heritage and Ram Janmabhoomi holds a special and sacred place in the hearts of crores of our countrymen in India and abroad.
'I also welcome the apex courts decision that five acres of land be given at a prominent place for the building of a mosque in Ayodhya.
'Today's judgement is the culmination of a long and contentious process that played itself out in various forums -- both judicial and non-judicial in the past many decades.
'In the course of the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement, I had often stated that the true purpose of constructing a Ram Mandir at Ayodhya is to construct a magnificent Rashtra Mandir -- building India as a strong, prosperous, peaceful and harmonious nation with justice for all and exclusion of none.
While addressing the media outside the apex court, he said, "It is a historic judgement. With this judgement, the Supreme Court has given the message of unity in diversity."
Also, minutes after the verdict, a group of lawyers were seen sloganeering "Jai Shri Ram" outside the apex court's premises but were later stopped by the fellow lawyers and people present in the vicinity.
A five-judge constitution bench presided by Chief Justice Gogoi will shortly pronounce the verdict on a batch of petitions against an order of the Allahabad High Court which trifurcated the site between the parties -- Ramlalla Virajman, Sunni Central Waqf Board and Nirmohi Akhara.
A decade-long legal dispute is being fought by right-wing party Hindu Mahasabha, a sect of Hindu monks Nirmohi Akhara and Muslim Waqf Board over 2.77 acres of land in Ayodhya.