The Hindu : `RSS not averse to mosque in Ayodhya'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 19, 2002

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`RSS not averse to mosque in Ayodhya'

NAGPUR, FEB. 18. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is not averse to a mosque in Ayodhya if that could result in the Ram temple issue being resolved to the satisfaction of all. ``The banks of the Sarayu river are quite wide and the mosque can be constructed at a distance from the proposed Ram temple which the Vishwa Hindu Parishad wants to build,'' the RSS spokesman, M.G. Vaidya, told reporters in an informal chat here today.

If the leaders of the Muslim community came up with a proposal, the RSS was ready for a dialogue to resolve the temple controversy. It had, on the initiative of the Minority Commission member, John Joseph, discussed some of the thorny issues between the churches and the Hindu community, Mr. Vaidya said. ``We are ready for talks,'' he said, adding that the RSS had never said that the `masjid' could not be built in Ayodhya.

For the past 70 years, no `namaz' had been offered at the site where the Babri Masjid stood once. The Muslim leaders knew very well that a `masjid' could not be built at the place which belonged to the temple. The Muslim community should consider the RSS proposal for a dialogue.

Answering questions on what would happen on or around March 12 - the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's deadline to the Centre for handing over the undisputed land so that the temple construction could begin - Mr. Vaidya said the RSS felt the land (on which the Government had sought the Law Ministry's views) could be handed over to the VHP - original owners - to facilitate the construction of the temple. It would take at least two more years before the construction reached the disputed land. In the meantime, the issue could be expedited if the court conducted daily hearings.

The RSS did not feel that there could be any law and order problem if the VHP went ahead with its construction plan even without the Government handing over the undisputed land. There was also no threat to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA Government's stability.

Mr. Vaidya cited a few national parties which, after the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya, had said that they would construct a mosque at the same place. Today, contesting the Uttar Pradesh elections, they had not referred to it in their manifestoes.

- UNI

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