India's Supreme Court has ruled that the contested site in Ayodhya, claimed by both Hindus and Muslims, belongs to Hindus. This ruling allows for the construction of a Ram temple on the land, believed to be the birthplace of the god Ram. The court also allocated a separate five-acre plot near the site for a mosque. The dispute, rooted in over 150 years of religious conflict, was fueled by the 16th-century Babri Mosque, which Hindus claimed was built over a former Ram temple.
The decision is a significant victory for Prime Minister Modi and his BJP party, which has pushed for the temple's construction as part of their Hindu nationalist agenda. However, the ruling has sparked mixed reactions. Hindu groups celebrated the judgment, viewing it as a message of unity, while Muslim leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation of land and hinted at the possibility of an appeal.
The ruling prompted heightened security measures in Ayodhya, as authorities feared violence. While the city remained peaceful, the aftermath of the judgment has added to the growing religious tensions in India, where the BJP's policies have been criticized for marginalizing the Muslim community.