Fri Dec 06 13:23:32 UTC 2024: ## Ayodhya Case: Lawyer Claims Aurangzeb, Not Babur, Built Babri Masjid

**Ayodhya, India –** On the 6th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, a report resurfaces detailing arguments presented before the Supreme Court during the Ayodhya land dispute case in 2019. The article focuses on the arguments made by P.N. Mishra, a lawyer representing the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Punarutthan Samiti. Mishra challenged the widely held belief that Babur constructed the Babri Masjid.

Mishra argued that historical documents, including the Baburnama (Babur’s memoirs), do not provide evidence of Babur building the mosque in 1528. He cited the absence of mention of Mir Baqi, supposedly the architect, in the Baburnama, and suggested that the structure was built much later, possibly by Aurangzeb after demolishing a pre-existing Ram temple. He supported his claims by referencing travelogues from 1770, which described the building as relatively recent, and other historical texts such as the Ain-i-Akbari and Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, which lack any mention of Babur constructing the mosque. He also presented a map of Ayodhya, dating back over 200 years, which indicated the existence of a Ram Janmasthan temple. Furthermore, Mishra referenced the writings of Niccolò Manucci, an Italian commander under Aurangzeb, to corroborate his claim.

Justice Bobde questioned the relevance of Mishra’s arguments, highlighting that the core issue was the claimants’ right to the birthplace of Ram. Mishra responded that if Aurangzeb was responsible for the mosque’s construction, it would invalidate the Sunni Waqf Board’s claim to the land.

The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in November 2019, awarding land to both Hindu and Muslim parties for the construction of their respective religious sites. This report highlights the intense debate surrounding the origins of the Babri Masjid and the historical evidence presented during the legal proceedings.

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