The Hindu : `I was misunderstood'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 30, 2003

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`I was misunderstood'

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD May 29. The BJP president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, today denied that he had suggested that a mosque be constructed beside the Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of the meeting of the BJP State presidents and secretaries held here today, Mr. Naidu said he had only suggested that one probable solution was for a mosque to be built in some nearby area which had a Muslim population.

Only the Ram temple, which he termed as "historically important", should be constructed at the disputed site and "not any mosque".

Building a mosque near the proposed temple was "no solution," Mr. Naidu said and added that in any case "there were no Muslims in Ayodhya who would pray in such a mosque".

On being asked about his widely reported comments in the media about building a mosque next to the proposed temple, Mr. Naidu replied "I spoke in Hindi and perhaps, the reporters misunderstood what I was implying".

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