Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Nov 16: Sri Sri Ravishankar, who on his own, has taken up the role of a mediator in the Ayodhya Babri Masjid dispute, will meet different stakeholders involved on November 16.
However, prominent Hindu seers on Wednesday have called Ravishankar’s efforts as ‘Nautanki’ (a hilarious play without any message).
All India Akhara Parishad president Mahant Narendra Giri told media persons that Ravishankar runs an NGO and is neither a saint nor a spiritual personality. He has no role to play in the dispute, he said.
"Where was he (Ravishankar) when we were jailed and suffered atrocities for fighting for the Ram Temple....now he has suddenly appeared on the scene," said Former BJP MP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ram Vilas Vedanti and said Ravishankar should end his mediation efforts.
Various Muslim organizations have expressed their reservations, saying that the spiritual guru should first disclose his plan.
"It is being said that Sri Sri Ravishankar is talking to all the stakeholders in the case but he has not yet contacted the top leadership of the All India Muslims Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) which is leading the Muslim side," said AIMPLB general secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani.
"About 12 years ago, Sri Sri had made a similar move and had concluded that the disputed site be handed over to Hindus...what new formula he has found this time should be disclosed," he claimed.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on Wednesday. In the “courtesy meeting” that lasted about 40 minutes at the CM’s residence, Ravi Shankar briefed Adityanath about his plan to bring a mutual consensus over the long-simmering debate.
Expressing hope that Ravi Shankar’s efforts might turn successful, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, however, stressed that the decision by the Supreme Court would be final. “This (mediation) kind of effort is being made by those who believe it will help resolve the issue at the earliest. I wish their efforts bear fruit. But the apex court’s final verdict will be binding,” Naik said.
VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma ruled out the need for any kind of dialogue over the Ram Temple row saying that archaeological evidence in the matter was in favour of the Hindus and that the courts go by proof.
In a jibe against the spiritual guru, Sharma added, “Even those who have no contribution in the movement are leading the campaign for striking an agreement. The VHP respects Sri Sri Ravi Shankar but he should know that efforts in this regard in the past, in which prime ministers, governments, and Shankaracharya were also involved, failed to give any result.”
"I am hopeful... I am not disheartened. No one is opposed to amity. This is just a beginning, we will talk to all," Ravi Shankar had earlier told the media.
New Delhi: Sri Sri Ravishankar, who on his own, has taken up the role of a mediator in the Ayodhya Babri Masjid dispute, will meet different stakeholders involved on November 16.
However, prominent Hindu seers on Wednesday have called Ravishankar’s efforts as ‘Nautanki’ (a hilarious play without any message).
All India Akhara Parishad president Mahant Narendra Giri told media persons that Ravishankar runs an NGO and is neither a saint nor a spiritual personality. He has no role to play in the dispute, he said.
"Where was he (Ravishankar) when we were jailed and suffered atrocities for fighting for the Ram Temple....now he has suddenly appeared on the scene," said Former BJP MP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ram Vilas Vedanti and said Ravishankar should end his mediation efforts.
Various Muslim organizations have expressed their reservations, saying that the spiritual guru should first disclose his plan.
"It is being said that Sri Sri Ravishankar is talking to all the stakeholders in the case but he has not yet contacted the top leadership of the All India Muslims Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) which is leading the Muslim side," said AIMPLB general secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani.
"About 12 years ago, Sri Sri had made a similar move and had concluded that the disputed site be handed over to Hindus...what new formula he has found this time should be disclosed," he claimed.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on Wednesday. In the “courtesy meeting” that lasted about 40 minutes at the CM’s residence, Ravi Shankar briefed Adityanath about his plan to bring a mutual consensus over the long-simmering debate.
Expressing hope that Ravi Shankar’s efforts might turn successful, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, however, stressed that the decision by the Supreme Court would be final. “This (mediation) kind of effort is being made by those who believe it will help resolve the issue at the earliest. I wish their efforts bear fruit. But the apex court’s final verdict will be binding,” Naik said.
VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma ruled out the need for any kind of dialogue over the Ram Temple row saying that archaeological evidence in the matter was in favour of the Hindus and that the courts go by proof.
In a jibe against the spiritual guru, Sharma added, “Even those who have no contribution in the movement are leading the campaign for striking an agreement. The VHP respects Sri Sri Ravi Shankar but he should know that efforts in this regard in the past, in which prime ministers, governments, and Shankaracharya were also involved, failed to give any result.”
"I am hopeful... I am not disheartened. No one is opposed to amity. This is just a beginning, we will talk to all," Ravi Shankar had earlier told the media.