In what is seen as the first positive sign of efforts at finding an amicable solution to the Ayodhya dispute, Mohammed Hashim Ansari, the oldest living litigant in the title suits case; Mahant Ramdas of the Nirmohi Akhara and Mahant Ram Vilas Vedanti representing “Ram Lalla Virajman” got together to thrash out a compromise formula.
After the meeting held in the house of Mahant Gyan Das, chief of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, at Ayodhya on Friday, it was disclosed that a compromise formula keeping both the “temple and the mosque” in mind would be made public within 60 days.
The meeting reportedly aimed at “bridging the gap between Hindus and Muslims” and making them agreeable to the formula.
Welcoming Mr. Ansari's initiative, Mahant Ramdas and Dr. Vedanti told journalists that Friday's meeting was a positive sign.
Mahant Gyan Das, who earlier held two rounds of talks with Mr. Ansari, was reportedly of the opinion that even if an appeal was filed in the Supreme Court against the September 30 Allahabad High Court verdict, the peace process would continue.
But even as the meeting “unanimously” resolved to thrash out a formula, pamphlets in Urdu disapproving of Mr. Ansari's peace efforts were distributed after Friday prayers at Ayodhya and Faizabad.
The pamphlets, whose source was unknown, said the Muslims of Ayodhya would abide by the decision of the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
The Waqf Board has already decided to move the Supreme Court. Its chairman, Zufar Ahmed Farooqui reiterated on Saturday that since it took time to examine the voluminous High Court judgment, it would take about a month to file an appeal.
As for an out-of-court settlement, Mr. Farooqui told The Hindu that the “proposal has to come from the parties to the title suits, thereafter it would be discussed with the Board members.”
