Singhal rules out talks to resolve dispute
VHP supremo Ashok Singhal on Thursday ruled out talks to resolve the long-pending Ayodhya dispute. Expressing disappointment over the delay in pronouncement of the judgment on the Ayodhya title suit, the VHP leader said the only way out is to await the verdict of the Allahabad high court. The Supreme Court stayed for a week the
verdict and will hear the plea for deferment of the judgment on September 28. While BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said her party will react after the judgment is pronounced, the CPI(M) expressed doubts over possibilities of reconciliation. CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury said, “Negotiations and reconciliation are always welcome but the point is, in all these years this has not been achieved. How can one expect to achieve this, that too within a week?”
Speaking on the issue, VHP leader Ashok Singhal said efforts were made earlier also for reconciliation, but only a verdict can solve the issue. He said, as the “Muslims have opposed any further talks, an out-of-court settlement through talks is not possible.” RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav also said that it would have been good if the verdict was not deferred.
Mr Singhal said the high-powered committee of saints would be meeting on Friday to take stock of the situation, arising from the Supreme Court’s direction. The sants would also make an appeal for peace and calm to be maintained in the wake of the verdict and devise the future course of action.
Disagreeing with the suggestion of Ramesh Chandra Tripathi, who had moved the top court for reconciliation in the case, Mr Singhal said, “Some big forces are supporting him. Delay is not salutary. It will have adverse impact.” He said the dispute has already “dragged on for over six decades and it should not be further delayed,” favouring an early verdict. “Whoever wins or loses, the case was bound to go to the Supreme Court,” he added.
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