Historic verdict 

A five-judge Supreme Court bench on Saturday settled the centuries- old Hindu-Muslim dispute that had been in the courts for 70 years. Through a unanimous verdict now, the apex court has handed over the Ram Janambhumi Babri-Masjid disputed land for the construction of a Ram temple. It has also allocated 5 acres of land at a prominent place in Ayodhya for a mosque. In the course of the verdict, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that the court does not decide on the basis of faith or belief, but on the basis of evidence. Hindus and Muslims had competing claims over the disputed site, but Hindus showed better evidence of their continuous worship at the disputed structure for centuries. It is welcome that both Hindus and Muslims have agreed to the verdict, except a small minority. The verdict has given a fillip to unity among diversity in our country, which is a welcome victory.

Putul Sarma,

Biswanath Chariali.