Unhappy with CJI’s suggestion, Ayodhya saints to meet PM

A delegation of saints from Ayodhya led by Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas (RJB) chief Nritya Gopal Das is planning to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Supreme Court Chief Justice JS Khehar’s suggestion of a negotiated settlement to the dispute and even offering mediation.

Das represents the lobby of saints associated with the temple movement who are unhappy with CJI’s offer.

“The court sees evidence. We know that all evidence points to Ram temple in Ayodhya. Our case is foolproof,” Das told HT on the phone from Ayodhya.

Das said, “During our meeting with the PM, we will request him to help find a solution on the lines worked out for the Somnath temple.” He said, “Victims have high hopes from the judiciary but here it’s a case of victims being suggested to find a negotiated settlement.”

The Ayodhya saint had earlier described the Modi government at the centre as ‘Ram bhakton ki sarkar (a pro-Ram government).’ Das had also lauded Modi’s decision to pick Gorakhpur’s Gorakhnath temple head priest Aditya Nath Yogi, a strident votary of temple, as Uttar Pradesh chief minister, hoping it would pave the way for temple.

Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), a sangh supported body too has been busy enlisting Muslim support for the temple cause. Interestingly, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) welcomed the CJI’s offer. “We welcome it as it would eventually pave the way for early resolution of temple tangle,” RSS veteran Prabhu Narain said making it clear that a section of top saints ofAyodhya movement and RSS weren’t on the same page on the issue.

Asked if there was any time frame for temple construction, the Sangh leader said that the decision would be taken by Vishva Hindu Parishad’s Dharma Sansad.

“We will merely facilitate temple construction but the main role would be played by VHP,” he said in Lucknow. Priest Raju Das of the Hanumangarahi temple too backed the RJB Nyas chief. “We have high regards for the judiciary but what’s the point of seeking a negotiated settlement or accepting mediation on an issue where our case is foolproof,” he said.

During our meeting with the PM, we will request him to help find a solution on the lines worked out for the Somnath temple NRITYA GOPAL DAS, Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas (RJB) chief