Author: Our Staff Reporter
Publication: The Hindu
Date: May 30, 2003
URL: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/05/30/stories/2003053004730100.htm
The BJP president, M. Venkaiah Naidu,
today denied that he had suggested that a mosque be constructed beside
the Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.
Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines
of the meeting of the BJP State presidents and secretaries held here today,
Mr. Naidu said he had only suggested that one probable solution was for
a mosque to be built in some nearby area which had a Muslim population.
Only the Ram temple, which he termed
as "historically important", should be constructed at the disputed site
and "not any mosque".
Building a mosque near the proposed
temple was "no solution," Mr. Naidu said and added that in any case "there
were no Muslims in Ayodhya who would pray in such a mosque".
On being asked about his widely
reported comments in the media about building a mosque next to the proposed
temple, Mr. Naidu replied "I spoke in Hindi and perhaps, the reporters
misunderstood what I was implying".
