Oldest Babri litigant Hashim Ansari passes away

Lucknow, July 20: Hashim Ansari, the oldest litigant in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, passed away in Ayodhya on Wednesday morning, after the prolonged illness. Ansari has been fighting the case in favour of the Babri mosque since 1949. He was suffering from serious health conditions from many years. Ansari opposed to the bringing down of the disputed structure by 'Hindu Kar Sevaks' on December 6, 1992, and his house was also gutted in the riots that followed the demolition. His friendship with other Hindu litigants in the case - Ram Keval Das and Ram Chandra Paramhans of the Digambar Akhada, was very strong despite sharp difference of opinions. He had recently slammed Uttar Pradesh Minority Affairs Minister Azam Khan, accusing him of cheating Muslims.