ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood has said that contrary to Indian claims of declaring Babri Masjid as its internal matter, the issue of demolition of the Babri Masjid remained on the agenda of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) since 1992.

Briefing the OIC Resident Ambassadors in Islamabad on Indian Supreme Court’s verdict regarding the historic Babri Masjid, Sohail Mahmood said the OIC had also addressed this issue in numerous resolutions and declarations, including at the summit level.

He underlined that the decision failed to uphold the demands of justice, shredded the veneer of so-called secularism of India, and further illustrated the vulnerabilities of the minorities in India, particularly Muslims, in the face of extremist “Hindutva” ideology.

Also Read: Indian SC rules in favour of constructing Hindu temple at site of Babri Masjid

On Nov 9, the Indian Supreme Court, in one of the most controversial verdicts of its history, had announced that a Hindu temple would be built at the site of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

While, the pleas filed by Sunni Central Waqf Board and Shia Central Board of Waqf were rejected.

Ram Mandir will be built at the site of Babri Masjid and Sunni Waqf Board will be given five acre land at a separate place as an alternate to the site of the mosque in the city, the apex court had ruled.

Hurting the sentiments of more than 217 million Muslim population in the country, the five-member bench of the top court in its verdict announced that the disputed land should be allotted to the Ramjanmabhoomi Trust. The government should constitute a board within three months for construction of the temple, it had added.

On Nov 9, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict in Babri Mosque case apparently reflected the bigoted ideology of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi had also expressed surprise as to why did the day of opening of Kartarpur Corridor was chosen by the Indian apex court for the verdict in Babri Mosque case.

The foreign minister had noted that Muslims were already under a lot of pressure in India and this decision of the Indian court would further increase pressure on them.