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No need to involve VHP in Ayodhya issue: Kanchi seer

Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati on Wednesday said there was no need to involve the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in the Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

The seer, who was talking to newsmen after a meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said, "We have faith in court verdict."

Saraswati had arrived in New Delhi amid speculation that he would make another attempt to bring about a rapprochement between the Hindus and Muslims. His word carries a lot of weight among a large number of people.

When the Babri Masjid was demolished in December 1992, then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had requested the seer to provide his heeling touch.

Since then all governments have used his offices to impress upon both the communities to resolve the dispute peacefully and honourably.

The All India Babri Masjid Action Committee had on Tuesday urged Saraswati to dissociate himself from the VHP and declare that the court verdict would be binding on all.

AIBMAC convener Zafaryab Jilani, while appreciating the seer's stand to disagree with the VHP's proposal to divide Jammu and Kashmir into four parts to facilitate the return of migrant Pandits, had said, "He has not given any indication that in the event of failure of his efforts, the parties will have to abide by the court verdict."

The seer, who had made an abortive attempt in March to find a solution to the issue, is understood to have been given the go-ahead by Vajpayee to help bring back the two communities to the negotiating table.

His visit also assumes significance in the backdrop of the recent turnaround by the VHP on its commitment to maintain status quo at the disputed site till the court verdict is pronounced.

VHP leader Ashok Singhal had made the commitment on behalf of the Ram Janambhoomi Nyas during the run up to the March 15 shiladaan programme in Ayodhya.

The VHP, at a meeting of its Kendriya Margadarshak Mandal in Hardwar over the weekend, had decided to go back on its commitment.

The Ayodhya Issue: Complete Coverage

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