'Babri Masjid's erection an act of desecration'

Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has stirred a major controversy with his remarks on the Ayodhya dispute, stating that the very erection of the Babri Masjid was a “fundamental act of desecration.” The observation came during an interview with Newslaundry journalist Sreenivasan Jain, excerpts of which were shared on social media.

- FPJ News Service

Responding to a question on whether Hindu parties were accountable for acts of desecration, such as the placing of idols inside the mosque in December 1949, Chandrachud said the construction of the mosque itself was an act of desecration. Jain pointed out that this remark appeared to contradict the Supreme Court’s 2019 Ayodhya judgment, which had noted that there was no evidence to conclude that the Babri Masjid was built after demolishing a Hindu temple, Live Law reports.

When asked about the argument that Hindus had desecrated the inner courtyard while Muslims had not contested the outer courtyard, Chandrachud countered by asking, “What about the fundamental act of desecration, the very erection of the Mosque? You forget all that happened? Do we forget what happened in history?”

He said the Court had found archaeological evidence that there was a temple beneath the mosque, which was destroyed to build it.