In a new twist to the complex Ram temple-Babri mosque case, main litigant Hashim Ansari has discussed with Akhara Parishad chief Mahant Gyan Das a new proposal for the resolution of the Ayodhya dispute that they plan to put before the Supreme Court.
The out-of-court settlement proposal suggests that the 70 acres of the disputed premises would accommodate both mosque and temple with a partition wall at a height of 100 feet.
Mr. Ansari has met Mr. Gyan Das, who is also the head priest of Ayodhya’s famous Hanuman Garhi temple, on several occasions to find a solution to the complex issue that has remained unresolved for decades.
The idea behind the plan is to find a middle path keeping in mind the sensibilities of both the Hindu and the Muslim communities, sources said.
“We are drafting the final points of a negotiation draft, which will be presented before the Supreme Court soon after the hearing starts. We will be meeting the Prime Minister too to seek his cooperation,” Mr. Das said after the meeting on Monday.
The proposal has been discussed with top Hindu religious groups and main spiritual leaders, he added.
Mr. Ansari said, “After the draft is finalised, we will get it signed by all the top religious leaders from both the communities who are supporting our cause since the beginning, before submitting it in the Supreme Court.” The negotiation draft would be made public only after it was submitted to the Supreme Court, he added.
Referring to recent statements by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on the issue, Mr. Das said it was not a party in the “peace process”.
“They just want to create communal tension between the communities...We are in favour of construction of both Ram temple and Babri mosque adjacent to each other but with a huge division wall of more than 100 ft in between,” the Hanuman Garhi temple head priest said.
