Far from Delhi where a new war of words has erupted over Ayodhya, the Muslims of Faizabad-Ayodhya believe that the Kanchi Shankaracharya’s initiative to solve the vexed issue is a ‘‘good beginning.’’A five-member Muslim delegation from the twin towns had travelled to Kanchi to meet Jayendra Saraswati in August last year. The Shankaracharya had invited them to seek the view of local Muslims on a way out of the mess. All were of the view that political leaders be kept out of talks if these were to succeed.‘‘I have great respect for the Shankaracharya and we all want a solution to the issue. It’s been going on for years. The Shankaracharya told us he was interested in the development of the twin-towns and wanted a solution to the mandir-masjid row.We told him local Muslims and Hindus were of the opinion that the temple and mosque should co-exist at a mutually agreeable distance,’’ Khalid Mohammed told The Indian Express.Jayendra Saraswati travelled twice to Ayodhya last year and spoke to local Hindu and Muslim leaders. But he invited only a Mulsim delegation to Kanchi for further talks.‘‘We told him that Hindu parties had gone to the court for a solution and, therefore, they should wait for its decision instead of raising a hue and cry on how the case has been going on for years,’’ said Yunus Siddique, convenor of the Babri Masjid Action Committe and a local Muslim leader.The Muslim delegation was also opposed to the role of the Sunni Central Waqf Board, saying it was a government body which had ‘‘nothing to do with sentiments of the members of the minority community.’’
