Even as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) says it is ready to promote a dialogue between Hindus and Muslims to resolve the Ayodhya dispute, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) says it will appeal against the high court verdict, as it feels there can be “no amicable solution”.
“We will appeal against the verdict because the space allotted to us is not enough to construct a temple in Ayodhya. We want to build a grand temple at the place and we are not ready to share the space with Muslims, because they have no locus standi to claim the disputed shrine,” said Giriraj Kishore, veteran VHP leader.
RSS said it did not want to be the “first one” to appeal against the court’s verdict. Its leadership was hoping that representatives of Hindus and Muslims sat together and solved the problem, as a court battle could mean further delay in construction of a temple in Ayodhya.
However, the VHP believes talks aren’t the answer. “If talks could resolve the issue, then it would have happened by now. Talks can’t solve this problem,” said Kishore.
The Sunni Wakf Board has already decided to appeal in the Supreme Court against the verdict. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board is also scheduled to meet, on October 9 in Delhi and October 16 in Lucknow, to decide its stand.
Kishore further said that the VHP didn’t agree to the court’s verdict of giving “not less than 1/3rd of the total space to Muslims” because it would negate the entire movement started by the VHP and RSS.
“We don’t agree to the court’s verdict of sharing the disputed land with Muslims because it will only increase the problems between the two communities. Do you want a similar situation like in Mathura and Kashi? A new mosque alongside the temple would mean that dispute between the two communities would continue,” said Kishore.
Sources in the RSS agree there should be no new mosque in Ayodhya, because it will aggravate the problems between the two communities, not end these.
“There is a history on the construction of mosque and it should be kept in mind while dealing with the dispute,” added Kishore.
