Date:10/01/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/01/10/stories/2004011005211100.htm

National

Fresh effort to resolve Ayodhya tangle

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI, JAN. 9. A fresh effort is being made to resolve the Ayodhya issue, and part of this is the appeal made by the Dalai Lama a few days ago.

Today, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, issued a statement endorsing the appeal and adding that "this Government would not only encourage but also actively participate in any serious and reasonable effort to settle the issue in an amicable manner".

Mr. Advani said that a peaceful solution to the Ayodhya dispute had the potential "to correct the wrong trends in the relations between the two communities [Hindus and Muslims] which are a residue of the past". He promised to use "whatever persuasive power" the Government and the BJP had "over those who had launched the movement for the Ram temple at Ayodhya" to get them to participate in any "amicable settlement".

In a separate statement — signed by Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore and Pravin Togadia — the Vishwa Hindu Parishad said that "any effort to resolve the Ayodhya matter that gives due weightage to Hindu pride and faith will be acceptable to Hindu society".

Several steps have apparently been taken behind the scenes. A Jama Masjid Trust has been set up at Ayodhya, and recently there were reports from Lucknow that a large piece of land, away from the Central Government-acquired land in and around the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid complex, has been identified for handing over to the Trust for the building of a mosque.

However, the Muslim Personal Law Board is not impressed. It has stated that it had nothing to do with the trust nor with any of the trustees and that it was the only body authorised to deal with the Ayodhya issue on behalf of the Muslim community.

Highly-placed BJP sources told The Hindu that the Government was keen on getting something going towards resolving the Ayodhya tangle. It has been calculated, it seems, that if a large mosque comes up in the vicinity of the disputed complex, it will to a great extent temper the Muslim anger and resentment related to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992.

After this becomes a reality, it may be easier for Muslims to relent and give up their legal claim on the disputed land, it is being hoped.

The Government is aware that the matter is pending before court, and unless Muslim parties to the legal dispute withdraw their claim in court, nothing can be done outside to settle the problem.

The Bharatiya Janata Party president, Venkaiah Naidu, said as much today when he pointed out that "the title suit on Ayodhya should be withdrawn by the Muslims to start a new chapter of harmonious relations between Hindus and Muslims". There should be a "mutual appreciation of claims on both sides and a settlement should be arrived at", Mr. Naidu added.

However, he virtually made it clear that the "settlement" would have to be a Ram temple on the entire disputed site. "Ramji ke janmasthan mein Ram ka mandir (Ram's temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram), that is the desire of the people of India," he emphasised.

What is clear is that whatever efforts are being made, both the Government and the BJP want a solution where no portion of the acquired land at Ayodhya is given to Muslims for a mosque.

And if any momentum towards this can be built up before the Lok Sabha election, the BJP will be able to satisfy the RSS outfits such as the VHP, address the Ayodhya issue for the benefit of its own cadre, and add to what it has called the "feel good factor" by creating the impression that the 54-year dispute is on the verge of being resolved.

A crucial breakthrough could come about if the RSS/VHP publicly announce that they would not rake up the temple-mosque controversies in Kashi and Mathura.