Author: Our Staff Correspondent
Publication: The Hindu
Date: June 22, 2003
URL: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/06/22/stories/2003062203200600.htm
One of the leading lights of the
Ramajanmabhoomi movement, Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Math says
he disagrees with the statement of Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswati,
that there were only three parties to the Ayodhya dispute- the Sankaracharya
himself, Muslim organisations, and the Union Government.
The swami told presspersons here
today that the Ramajanmabhoomi at Ayodhya belonged to the followers of
Ramanuja's tradition. Before taking any decision, the "peethadhipathis''
of Ramanuja tradition, the "mathadipathis'' of Vaishnava tradition, other
Sankaracharyas, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and other sants must be
taken into confidence.
It was not right on the part of
the Union Government to take a decision just by roping in the Kanchi Sankaracharya.
This would not go down well with the Hindus and would again lead to confrontation,
he added.
The Centre should try to evolve
a consensus by getting all the religious leaders of Hindu and Muslim communities
and the VHP. If this was not possible, it should bring in a Bill to resolve
the Ramajanmabhoomi issue either in this Lok Sabha or the next one.
All the political parties should
make Ramajanmabhoomi an important issue in the next elections. The only
way out was either through consensus or by brining in a law. This problem
could not be solved quickly through the courts.
The Swami said that if the dispute
went on for long, it would become a constant source of disharmony. It could
be resolved through elections as it was the real instrument of democracy.
The mutually contradictory statements of the Kanchi Acharya, the VHP, and
the Muslim organisations had created a sensitive situation.
The swami said that while he had
nothing against a solution by the Kanchi Acharya, all the others should
be consulted. The Kanchi seer had not consulted him before sending the
proposal to the Muslim Personal Law Board.
The VHP had begun the struggle for
Ramajanmabhoomi and it was there throughout. Hence it should be included
in evolving any solution. He would meet the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi,
in New Delhi on July 11 and seek her support for a Bill to resolve the
issue.
On the strained relations in the
Sangh Parivar, Sri Vishwesha Tirtha said that he as a member of the VHP
Margadarshak Mandal would guide the VHP in its relations with others including
the BJP during a meeting on July 11 in New Delhi.
The RSS chief, K.S. Sudharshan,
and the sants would be attending the meeting. There were reports of pressure
being brought upon the Centre by Muslim historians on the archaeological
findings at Ayodhya. There were also contradictory reports on the archaeological
findings at the Ramajanmabhoomi site, the Swami said.
