Barelvi clerics divided over meeting Sri Sri

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is scheduled to meet Barelvi clericturnedpolitician Tauqir Raza today

BAREILLY: A day before Art of Living founder(AOL) Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s maiden visit here, Barelvi clerics remained divided over the possibility of meeting him for a discussion on Ram Janma bhoomi issue.

While Tauqir Raza of IttehadE-Millat Council was open to a discussion on Ayodhya issue with the AOL founder, other senior clerics of the city and Dargah Ala Hazrat did not appear keen.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is scheduled to meet Barelvi cleric-turned-politician Tauqir Raza, before participating in a satsang, on Tuesday. The Ram Janmabhoomi issue is said to be on the agenda of the meeting.

Ravi Shankar is mediating over the Ayodhya dispute and though the matter is being heard in the Supreme Court, he has suggested an out of court agreement, openly declaring that “Muslim should gift Ayodhya land to Hindus.”

Several Muslim clerics and All India Muslim Personal Law board (AIMPLB) leaders have opposed this and favoured construction of a mosque instead.

Barelvi clerics, on the other hand, have not only abstained from giving any statement on the issue but are divided over meet- ing him.

“We have not received any intimation about any meeting with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,” said Subhan Raza Khan, elder brother of Tauqir Raza and head cleric at Dargah-E-Ala Hazrat, the most revered dargah for the followers of Barelvi sect of Sunni Islam. “I will not go anywhere uninvited, but everyone is welcome at the dargah,” he added.

Speaking on the Ram Janmabhoomi Issue he said, “I have always advocated that everyone must wait for and accept the decision of the Supreme Court, even if it is not in their favour.”

Maulana Aszad Raza Khan, another senior cleric and Tauqir’s brother, refused to attend the meeting with Ravi Shankar. Other senior clerics of the city Mandani Miyan and Tausif Miyan will also keep away.

Tauqir Raza, who heads a local party Ittehad-E-Millat Council, has the same view on the issue but is open to meet Sri Sri to discuss it. “The Ram Janmabhoomi issue has long been troubling our country. If a settlement is reached outside court we must support it,” Tauqir said.

“I will try to invite most clerics of Bareilly to discuss and debate over it with Sri Sri Ravishankar,” he added. His appeal, however, has yet to find any takers.