By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: History books do not mention a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Appearing on behalf of Jami’atul Ulema Hind and Sunni Waqf Board in the Babri Masjid ownership case, advocate Zafaryab Jilani said that even in those books presented by the other party’s witness and historian Satish Chandra Mittal, there is no mention about any Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Mr. Jilani was pleading before the 3-member special court comprising Justice Syed Raf’at Alam, Justice D.V. Sharma and Justice O.P. Srivastava. Blasting Satish Chandra Mittal’s claims to be an expert in modern history, Jilani said the witness has only shown his ignorance about important books related to modern period. A reference was made to the book A Journey To Kingdom Avadh written by the author and historian W. Sriman. The book, published in 1849/50, does not make any mention about a Ram Mandir or destruction of any Mandir there.
Jilani said the witness has said that the book India Distorted, referred in English historian Benson Smith’s book, is an authoritative book, but this book too does not say that there was a Ram Mandir in erstwhile Ayodhya. The book also does not mention any construction or demolition of Ram Mandir, he said.