English
New Delhi, Nov 16: Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is visiting Ayodhya on Thursday to meet stakeholders in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of Art of Living (AOL), had offered to mediate in the long pending dispute.
During his Ayodhya visit, Sri Sri will hold talks with Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas chairman Nritya Gopal Das and other top spiritual leaders apart from the son of Hashim Ansari, the oldest litigant in the Babri Masjid case who died last year.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is visiting Ayodhya a day after meeting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow. CM Adityanath said the government is not a party in the case and it will support the parties if they come out with a mutual resolution through dialogue.
“Lekin agar kisi nishkarsh par nahi pahunchte dono…samwad nahi kar sakts…baatcheet nahi kar sakte…toh nyayalay me mamla hai…nyayalay se jo nirnay aayega hum uska palan karenge (If they can’t come to any decision during talks…then the matter is in the court, and we will obey whatever is the court’s decision),” the UP CM told reporters.
आज लखनऊ स्थित सरकारी आवास पर आर्ट ऑफ लिविंग फाउंडेशन के संस्थापक श्री श्री रविशंकर जी ने भेंट की। pic.twitter.com/Lt24I9gd3F
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) November 15, 2017
In an apparent bid to find out ways for a reconciliation between the warring parties in the dispute, Ravi Shankar also met Suresh Das of Digambar Akhada, Janmejay Sharan of Rasikpeeth and Rajaram Chandra Acharya of Nirmohi Akahada on Wednesday.
‘Talks Not Needed’
Questions have been raised by both the sides over Ravi Shankar’s offer to mediate in the dispute. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) have expressed reservations over Ravi Shankar’s role in the matter.
“It is being said that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is talking to all the stakeholders in the case but he has not yet contacted the top leadership of All India Muslim Personal Law Board which is leading the Muslim side,” AIMPLB general secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani said.
The VHP said there was no need of a dialogue as the matter is in the court. “The courts go by evidence. There is no relevance of the clamour for agreement over Ram Janmabhoomi after the archaeological evidence in this regard have been found to be in favour of Hindus,” Sharad Sharma, VHP spokesperson said.
Even the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has raised objections over the idea of mediation in Ayodhya dispute. BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav also pointed out that the matter is being heard in the court. “Ram Temple matter is in Supreme Court, and I think we should let the legal process be complete, other discussions can be held after that.”
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case on December 5, a day before the 25th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition.
‘Sri Sri a Government Agent’
The Congress had last month dubbed Sri Sri Ravi Shankar a “government agent” who was representing its interests in the Ram Temple dispute in Ayodhya.
Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan had said the Supreme Court made it very clear that a settlement was possible, but he asked to who had appointed people like the Art of Living Foundation chief to take charge.
(With inputs from agencies)
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