The Hindu : The Ayodhya issue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 22, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

The Ayodhya issue

Sir, — The Mandir-Masjid dispute is being brought to the forefront as elections are drawing near. The recent intervention by the Kanchi Sankaracharya to solve the Ayodhya row has provided political parties and fundamentalists (who unfortunately are not exclusive of each other) an opportunity to reiterate their stand. The common man is now tired of the dispute and dreads riots and communal disharmony.

Religion that ought to be treated as a personal belief is given too much importance in order to gain political mileage. The excavation conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India at the disputed site is a waste of time and resources. Even if the ASI report states that a structure existed at Ayodhya predating the Babri mosque, would that justify the demolition? According to Hindu fundamentalists, invaders destroyed a temple to build a mosque in the 16th century. It is sad to see that humankind has progressed very little since then.

Savitha Suresh,

Bangalore

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Sir, — Syed Shahabuddin's point in raising the question of constitutional propriety on an Ayodhya legislation ( July 18 ) is understandable. But his failure to voice concern over the invalidation of the Supreme Court judgment in the Shah Bano case through an Act of Parliament is not so understandable. In the matter of applying rules, it is always better to maintain consistency.

Ram Gurbaxani,

Vadodara

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