Hashim Ansari, the oldest litigant in the Babri Masjid-Ramjanma Bhoomi case, passed away in the wee hours today. He was the 96. Ansari was suffering with serious health ailments and was admitted to a Lucknow hospital in critical condition a few days ago.
Ansari was one of the oldest litigant in the Babri Masjid case who had fought the case since 1959.
He had expressed unhappiness over the politicisation of the Babri Masjid case. Hashim Ansari used to say “Masjid se pehley hummey Mulk dekhna hai (we have to look at the nation before the Mosque).
A resident of Ayodhya and tailor by profession, Mr Ansari was associated with the case since December 1949 when idols of Lord Ram were planted in the Babri Masjid.
In 1954, he was sentenced to two years jail by Faizabad court for giving azaan (call for namaz) in the Babri Masjid.
Later, in 1961, Mr Ansari along with six others became main plaintiff in the ‘Ayodhya title suit’ filed by the Sunni Central Waqf Board in the court of Faizabad civil judge.
Mr Ansari is the only surviving plaintiff.
On December 6, 1992, a large crowd of of ‘Hindu Kar Sevaks’ destroyed the 16th-century Babri Masjid. The site was turned into rubble within few hours.
Last year, after the death of Ashok Singhal, Ansari condoled his death and reportedly said that, Singhal’s death was the greatest loss for Ram Mandir movement.
Ashok Singhal, VHP leader played a key role in mobilising support for the Ram Janmabhoomi movement during the early 90′s.