Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute: Sri Sri meets CM Yogi, begins mediation talks

LUCKNOW/FAIZABAD: Art of Living founder and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will meet original litigants of the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute in Ayodhya amid opposition from the VHP on Thursday.
On Wednesday, after meeting Uttar Pradesh chief minister Aditya Nath Yogi for about an hour, Ravi Shankar began mediation talks in Lucknow with religious heads for an amicable settlement in the dispute, amid celebratory drum beats and flower shower with chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
“There is currently no official proposal or formula being accepted or declined. These are talks we are having with all sides and only when I come back from Ayodhya can a detail report be shared with all,” he said.
He also met national president of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Nirman Nyas Mahant Janmejay Sharan and national secretary Pandit Amarnath Mishra, Raja Ram Chandra Acharya of Nirmohi Akhara, Mahant Suresh Das of Digambar Akhara, national president of Hindu Mahasabha Swami Chakrapani and founder president of Bajrang Dal Vinay Katiyar.
Hindu leaders held on to their stance of building Ram temple on the disputed site. “Ram mandir wahan banega jahan Ram Lalla virajmaan hain (Ram temple will be built on the spot where Ram Lalla currently is). Our formula is very clear and it is for the Muslim side to see where they can build a mosque. But no mosque in the country will be allowed in Babar’s name,” said Swami Chakrapani.
Janmejay Sharan said talks would continue until Ram temple was built on the dispute spot.
Katiyar said that talks being held by the spiritual guru would not yield any result if original litigants were not involved. “It is also our appeal to the Supreme Court to dismiss the high court order of three divisions, because we did not ask for the divisions, nor do we want it,” said Katiyar.
However, the VHP expressed doubts over Ravi Shankar’s efforts to resolve the dispute. VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain said the issue of building Ram temple at Ayodhya can never be resolved through talks.