Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to visit Ayodhya on Thursday, says 'will talk to all'

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who has offered to mediate in the Ayodhya dispute, will visit Ayodhya tomorrow (November 16).

The spiritual leader on Wednesday met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for 40 minutes at his official residence in Lucknow but said he had no proposal yet to discuss with stakeholders.

In an informal interaction with journalists after meeting Adityanath, he said,"I want unity...I want amity. This is just a beginning. We will talk to all."

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When his attention was drawn to comments by some Muslim leaders rejecting his proposal to resolve the dispute, Ravi Shankar said he had no proposal at the moment so any question of rejection does not arise.

"Neither I have given any proposal nor have I got it from anyone," he said.

A top official described the meeting between Ravi Shankar and Adityanath as "good".

The matter is pending before the Supreme Court, which in a few weeks will start hearings on the disputed site claimed by both the Hindus and the Muslims.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's offer for mediating in the dispute has received a tepid and skeptical response from key protagonists on both sides. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the Vishwa HinduParishad (VHP) have voiced reservations about his role.

"It is being said that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is talking to all the stakeholders in the case but he has not yet contacted the top leadership of All India Muslim Personal Law Board which is leading the Muslim side," AIMPLBgeneral secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani said.

He said Ravi Shankar had made a similar move to resolve the dispute some 12 years ago and concluded that the disputed site be handed over to Hindus.

"What new formula he has found this time should be told," Rehmani said.

The VHP too appeared dismissive, saying no dialogue on the issue was needed as courts go by evidence and archaeological evidence was in favour of Hindus.

"There is no relevance of the (recent) clamour for agreement over Ram Janmabhoomi after the archaeological evidences in this regard have been found to be in favour of Hindus... The courts go by evidence," regionalspokesman for the VHP Sharad Sharma said in a statement.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik said, "This (mediation) kind of effort is being made by those who believe it will help resolve the issue at the earliest. I wish their efforts bear fruit. But the apex court's final verdict will be binding."

Gautam Vig, a representative of the Art of Living founder said Ravi Shankar was listening to both Hindus and Muslims but no formula has been worked out yet.

A bench headed by the then Chief Justice J S Khehar had said in March this year that such religious issues can be resolved through negotiations and offered to mediate to arrive at an amicable settlement.

"These are issues of religion and sentiments. These are issues where all the parties can sit together and arrive at a consensual decision to end the dispute. All of you may sit together and hold a cordial meeting," the courthad said.

The Supreme Court will hear the case on December 5, a day before the 25th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition onDecember 6, 1992 by thousands of right-wing activists who claimed the mosque was built on a temple which marked the birthplace of Lord Ram in the 16th century. Two thousand people were killed in the riots which followed the demolition of the mosque.

In 2010, the Allahabad High Court ruled that the 2.77 acres of Ayodhya land be divided into 3 parts, with one-third going to the Ram Lalla (Infant Rama) represented by the Hindu Maha Sabha for the construction of the Ram temple, one-third to the Sunni Waqf Board and the remaining one-third to the Hindu Nirmohi Akhara.

All the three parties appealed against the division of the disputed land.

The state's Shia Waqf Board, which has impleaded itself in the case, has been siding with the Hindu parties to the case. Its chairman Wasim Rizvi says no new mosque should be built in either Ayodhya orneighbouring Faizabad as part of the formula mooted by it to resolve the dispute.

He said since the Babri mosque was a Shia shrine, the board will identify a piece of land in a Muslim-dominated area for it and inform the government.

(With inputs from PTI)