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Badri shankaracharya wants a Ram temple at Ayodhya

The shankaracharya of Badri Jyotish Peeth on Tuesday called for the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya with the goodwill and cooperation of Muslims.

Swaroopanand Saraswati Maharaj appealed to both Hindus and Muslims to rise above politics to resolve the issue and put an end to the communal violence in the country.

Referring to the riots in Gujarat, he said: "scores of people are being burnt alive in the fire caused by this problem."

Without naming the Sangh Parivar, he said, "Some selfish political elements have given political color to this sacred cause, which has resulted in violence and burning of people alive."

"We do not want to construct the Ram temple on the ill-will of Muslims, but it should be done with the goodwill and hearty cooperation of the Muslims. Time has come to bury the differences and work for the welfare of all. An amicable settlement for Ram Janmabhoomi issue will solve all the problems confronting the nation," the shankaracharya said.

He advocated a dialogue with Muslims leaders who had no political affiliations.

He said that the shankaracharya of Kanchi, Jayendra Saraswati, had failed in finding a solution to the issue, as he was brought in to placate the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which had threatened to perform puja at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

He said Hindu king Vikramaaditya had constructed a temple at the site.

After Muslim ruler Babar's invasion, his commander-in-chief Mir Baqui tried to construct a mosque but he did not succeed, he said.

The shankaracharya claimed that the Hindus never stopped offering prayers at the site. The structure demolished on December 6, 1992, was not a mosque in the true sense, he added.

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