Surprised by SC's stay on Ayodhya verdict: Advani

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani on Saturday said he failed to understand why the Supreme Court has deferred pronouncement of the verdict on the Ayodhya title suit when the nation has been waiting for a decision on the dispute since decades.

Advani also appealed to the apex court to give a go ahead to Allahabad high court during its next hearing of the case on September 28 so that the latter can give the verdict.

Speaking to mediapersons after offering prayers at the famous Shiva temple in Somnath, the spot from where he took out the rath yatra to Ayodhya on this day 20 years ago, he said, "I am not able to understand the decision of the Supreme Court."

"I respect the judicial system of the country. But when the masses are awaiting the decision of the court on Ayodhya, when litigants involved in the case also wanted the verdict, and when the Allahabad high court had also rejected the petition to defer the verdict, this decision has come from the Supreme Court," Advani said.

"But, now I will ask people and BJP workers to maintain calm for another few days as a respect to our courts. I appeal to the apex court that countrymen have been awaiting a judgement in this case since the last 50 years. Hence, I urge the Supreme Court to take up the matter finally on September 28 and give it back to Allahabad High Court for decision on September 29," said Advani, who was accompanied by expelled BJP leader Uma Bharti.

The veteran leader visits Somnath temple every year since he took out a yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya on September 25, 1990.

To a query that BJP was implicating Congress in the temple issue, Advani said, "No I am not (implicating). I would like all parties and communities in the country to see that the desire of the people to have a very befitting temple at Ram Janamasthan in Ayodhya be constructed. If that is done, then we would like all sections of the population to contribute to its building."

"I want that countrymen should make Somnath and Ayodhya as models of unity in the country," he said.

The Supreme Court had on Thursday deferred the Ayodhya title suit verdict by a week and has decided to hear the plea for postponement on September 28.

Advani said that in India, religion cannot be separated from politics or social life. "In my political career, I have learnt one thing and that is if you want to teach people about politics or social changes it should be through religious language. If nation building and social change concepts are taught to people through religious language, then masses of India will catch it up easily," he said.

Praising the Gujarat government for the progress made by the state, the senior BJP leader said that the party tried to give good governance in the states, where it was in power.

Advani was also accompanied by his daughter Pratibha and state BJP in-charge Balbir Punj during his visit. Later, he left for Delhi from Keshod airport.