Screengrab from video | Photo Credit: Times Now

New Delhi: Haji Mehboob, a petitioner in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute case, on Tuesday opposed the NDA government’s move to seek the Supreme Court’s nod for giving a part of the 67 acres of undisputed land around the disputed Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid site to original owners.

Threatening violence, Mehboob described the move as political. “The whole world knows about the current position of the BJP, therefore the Modi government took this step,” said the petitioner.

He added that if the “government would have taken this step two years back, people would have accepted it. We know that it is a big game. If this happens, the entire country will burn. Remember this, the country will not be saved.”

In a significant move by the BJP government ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the Centre had earlier today moved the Supreme Court seeking its permission to return the excess land around the disputed site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and other original owners.

"The applicant (Centre) is filing this Application seeking permission of this Court to permit the applicant to fulfil the duty to revert/restore/hand over the excess/superfluous land acquired under the Acquisition of Certain Areas of Ayodhya Act, 1993," the plea said.

The Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas (a trust to promote construction of Ram Temple) owns approximately 42 acres of the undisputed land out of 67 acres which was acquired in 1993.

We know that it’s a big game. If this happens, the entire country will burn: Haji Mehboob, Petitioner #NDAMegaMandirPush pic.twitter.com/mHj8C1Oo4S — TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 29, 2019

As per the Centre, only 0.312 acres of land is disputed. The "central government has no objection in principle if the superfluous land is restored to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas as well as other original owners after determining the extent of land required for proper access to and enjoyment of rights in the disputed area for preparing and plan maps."

"One party namely Ram Janmbhoomi Nyas whose land measuring approximately 42 acres [which is a part of the superfluous/excess land] was acquired, has moved an application relying on the constitution bench judgment of this court," the plea said.