Spiritual guru and Art of living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Thursday clarified that he had no formula as yet to resolve the Ayodhya tangle, but wanted to give a platform to stakeholders to resolve the matter amicably as he believed that even Muslims were nor against Ram Temple in Ayodhya’.
“I am repeatedly saying that I have no such formula to resolve the Ramjanmabhoomi dispute. My visit to lucknow and Ayodhya is an effort to evolve a common platform to sit and resolve the matter,” he said while talking to reporters in Ayodhya on Thursday.
Sr Sri said that he has come there on the invitation of Maharaj ji (Nritya Gopal Das). “It is an opportunity for a fresh start to promote renewed harmony by taking all sides on board,” he said adding that within three months both the communities would be in a position to solve the dispute.
The Art of living founder also claimed that Muslims were not opposing Ram Temple. “I know some may not agree with this, but Muslims by and large are not opposing the Ram temple. A solution may sometimes seem impossible but our people, youth and leaders of both communities can make it possible,” said Ravi Shankar.
When asked about opposition to his initiative from some quarters, the spiritual guru said, “Different people have different approach, some are optimist, some are pessimists. Even the Supreme Court wants an out-of-court settlement.”
“I know many people don’t believe this can happen but many more believe it can happen. It will take time to resolve the matter. But in five-six months if there is no solution, then court is there to decide,” Sri Sri said.
“If you want a permanent solution to it, then there is only one solution and that is through negotiation,” he opined.
The Art of living founder, however, did not seem comfortable on a barrage of questions thrown at him by media personnel and ended his conversation by saying, “Task is big and difficult, but it is not impossible.”
Earlier in the day, Sri Sri met Shri Ramjanambhoomi Nyas president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das at Shree Maniram Das Chhavni. Both were closeted for about 30 minutes in the hall of Deen Bandhu Eye Hospital run by Shri Maniram Das Chhavni Charitable Trust. He also met patients undergoing treatment at the hospital.
later in his brief interaction with the media at Shree Maniram Das Chavni, Sri Sri said that a new era started today to resolve the Ayodhya issue.
“We are trying to resolve the issue through mutual understanding and respect so that an amicable settlement is reached over the construction of Ram temple,” he said.
The spiritual guru said that he would meet all three stakeholders in the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, including seers and Muslim leaders.
He also met litigant Hasim Ansari’s son Iqbal Ansari and Haji Mehmood – another Muslim stake holder.
In the evening he addressed a Muslim meeting held at Forbes Inter College.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has however opposed the visit of Sri Sri saying the time for mediation is over.
“Only Ram Mandir will be constructed at that place. We do not want a masjid within the 84 kosi parikrama – the boundary of RJB,” said VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma.