M A I N   N E W S

Door open for talks, says Muslim Board
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 7
The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has not closed its door on negotiations with the Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati to solve the vexed Ayodhya issue.

The board, after rejecting the proposal sent by the Shankaracharya yesterday, has decided to send a letter to the seer explaining its position, sources told The Tribune today.

The letter, which will explain the board’s reason for rejecting the proposal, will also state the AIMPLB’s readiness to consider any further proposal from the seer if they meet the demands of the Muslim community.

The sources clarified that it would not be sending any team to meet the Shankaracharya, but would merely send the letter.

The proposal by the seer had evoked a positive response initially. However, when the clarification sought by the board was sent by the Shankaracharya, the apex body of the Muslims found that the seer had hardened the stance and there was no scope of accepting the proposal in the present form.

The board rejected the proposal as it found that the Shankaracharya had stated different thing in the three proposals he had sent so far.

In the first proposal sent in 2002, the seer had agreed to the shifting of “garbha griha”. However, he failed to give the construction plan and a guarantee whether the VHP and other organisation would abide by the court verdict.

The second proposal sent in June this year urged the board to allow Hindus to construct the temple on the undisputed land. However, when the board sought a clarification whether the Hindus would abide by the court order and whether the Muslims would be allowed to construct a mosque, the Shankaracharya in his July 1 letter issued “veiled threat” to the Muslims to hand over the Ram janmabhoomi complex to the Hindus.

Efforts over for now: Kanchi seer

Kancheepuram, July 7
Asserting that his efforts to find a solution to the Ayodhya tangle were over for now, Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi today said that the doors would always remain open for talks with Muslim leaders.

He, however, dismissed the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board’s (AIMPLB) charge that he had made “veiled threats” to Muslims to give up the mosques in Kashi and Mathura.

He made it clear at a press conference that a solution would not be possible through courts as it might take a long time, though it could be evolved through talks among the parties concerned.

The Shankaracharya said he had no new proposals to offer on Ayodhya, making it clear that he would not “interfere” in the affairs of Kashi and Mathura.

Some other organisations or associations might rake up the issue which might result in communal disharmony, he added. Asked whether his year-long effort to find a solution had gone waste, the seer said: “We have made only a small and progressive step and definitely not a jump.” — PTI