Ayodhya litigants look to end decades-old Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute

LUCKNOW: Litigants to the decades-old Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute have initiated fresh talks to resolve it, proposing to build both a temple and masjid at the disputed site. “We have agreed to solve the issue amicably and will come out with a proposal to be presented to courts,” said Swami Chakrapani, president of the All-India Hindu Mahasabha, who is party to the ongoing case in Supreme Court, and who met Muslim litigants led by Hashim Ansari on Friday in Ayodhya for a negotiated settlement.

Chakrapani added, “Muslims are not opposed to the construction of a grand Ram temple at the site. We have no enmity with each other. It is only the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) which has created a rift between the two communities.”

Chakrapani led a group including Ranjeet Verma, counsel of the main party to the case from the Hindu side, the Nirmohi Akhara, Mahant Dharam Das and Ramesh Chandra Tripathi. The meeting was held in the premises of the revered Hanuman Garhi temple.

Ansari, the oldest litigant in the case,“We are working on a negotiated settlement which will have both a temple and mosque. We hope to have a draft proposal acceptable to all sides soon.”