'Muslims must withdraw claim over Ayodhya, Kashi': VHP

 The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has asked the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) to withdraw its claim over Ram Janambhoomi in Ayodhya, Srikrishna Janambhoomi in Mathura and Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi if it wants to “live in peace and harmony” with their Hindu brethren in the country.

“An out-of-court settlement on these contentious issues is possible only when the AIMPLB withdraws its claims on these places,” VHP international patron Ashok Singhal said on Wednesday.

Singhal said that thousands of temples had been demolished in the country in the past. “We are not talking about all of them, but there can be no compromise on the three temples at Ayodhya, Mathura and Varanasi,” he added.

“There have been enough fights; there is now a need to rewrite history. The AIMPLB can make new history by withdrawing its claims on these places,” the VHP leader said.
“Hindus and muslims can live in harmony in the country only when the latter hand over these three places to Hindus,” Singhal added.

The VHP leader also strongly criticised the opposition to yoga by a section of Muslim clerics. “Yoga is closely attached with our culture. It can’t be separated,” he added.
Muslim organisations have already made it clear that there was no question of withdrawing their claim on Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura.

“The Ayodhya issue is currently pending in court and we will abide by the court’s judgement,” said AIMPLB member Zafaryab Jilani.

The oldest litigant in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suits Hashim Ansari also rejected the VHP’s demand, saying that Muslims will accept the court’s verdict in the matter.

There have been attempts by a section of Hindu seers in Ayodhya to arrive at an out-of-court settlement but they have not yielded any result.