Udupi seer asks for political initiative on Ayodhya issue

Courts, according to him, can be of little help in finding a way out, and a solution could be available only outside the court, and by evolving a consensus among the parties involved.

The senior pontiff, now administering the affairs of the world-famous Udupi Sri Krishna temple, articulated his views on the issue, and was critical of the conduct of the Opposition parties in the Parliament for “raking up the issue, and provoking bad blood between the members of the two largest communities.”

These political parties, he said, were trying to exploit the issue and sentiments of people keeping their eyes on the minority votes.

The seer said he has a solution in mind for the problem, but refused to divulge it. He would articulate his views on the issue, and elaborate on the solution he has at the meeting of the religious leaders, he said.

Vishvesha Theertha Swami gave a clean chit to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee in the recent controversy on Ayodhya issue, and said his statement on the construction of Ram temple at the disputed site was wholly provoked. The PM’s statement, he maintained, was a reaction to the Opposition outcry on the eve of Dec 6.

“I am not a spokesperson for Vajpayee or for any party,” he said, and added that even what the PM said was in line with his party BJP’s known stand, and to drive home this point it even held a `Rath Yathra’.

The seer sought to clarify that he would never approve of the demolition of the Babri Masjid structure. At the same time, he would not also approve of the demands for the resignation of the three Union Ministers, L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharathi in view of their names finding a mention in the FIR registered in the aftermath of demolition. “The charges against them should not be equated with corruption charges. Demand for their resignation is wrong,” he said.

On the question of attacks against Christian missionaries, the Seer asserted that it was the handiwork of some foreign forces like the ISI. The friction among religious groups can be averted if each religious group enters into an agreement with groups of other religions not to indulge in conversions. Missionaries of any religion should be free to preach their religion within their group, but should not provoke conversions, he said.