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It's for courts to decide: Cong.

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 9. The Congress today distanced itself from the remarks of the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswati, saying "sharing a platform does not mean sharing the views or the perception of the people on it''. The party spokesperson, Anand Sharma, said that the Congress believed that courts should adjudicate the issue.

The Congress also refused to be drawn into reacting to the Sankaracharya's remarks, praising the former Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao, for the events of December 6, 1992 (Babri Masjid demolition day). "It was not the occasion to enter into a debate or join issue,'' a senior leader said.

The party made it clear that the Congress president attended the function because it was the 50th "peetharohanam" of Sri Jayendra Saraswati. "The Congress president's views were reflected in her speech. She made no mention of Ayodhya or the dispute,'' said Mr. Sharma.

He also clarified that Ms. Gandhi's silence on the Sankaracharya's remarks could not be construed as "consent''. "It was a felicitation function and not a debate in Parliament. Propriety demanded that we refrain from commenting on the Sankaracharya's speech."

"The party's views were neither influenced nor amended by the participation in a function.''

The dominant view in the party is that the Sankaracharya's praise of Mr. Rao for the role he played in the temple movement has caused embarrassment. "The party's interests would be best served if it allowed the issue to fade away. Though the party is sceptical about some of the Sankaracharya's remarks and even his political preferences, it believes that there is little to be gained by joining issue with him.''

"He is a respected religious leader; he has taken a role in the Ayodhya issue. Why should we comment on his role,'' said a Congress Working Committee member.

Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (United), a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance, said it had maintained that any solution to the Ayodhya dispute could be found either through the courts or be mutually sorted out between the religious leaders of both communities.

The party spokesman, K.C. Tyagi, said the Janata Dal was of the firm view that it would not accept any other solution found by any person "irrespective of who he or she is''.

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