Congress for negotiated settlement

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has called for a negotiated settlement to the Ayodhya issue and even indicated that his party could make an attempt towards it.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has called for a negotiated settlement to the Ayodhya issue and even indicated that his party could make an attempt towards it.

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His comments came amid speculation of possible Hindu-Muslim polarisation following the verdict on the title suit case.

“Not only the government but all right-thinking people should work for a negotiated settlement. From our side, we will try for a settlement. The issue should be resolved,’’ he said.

While the Congress would respect the judgment, he noted that there were three months for filing an appeal, during which period a negotiated settlement can be worked out.

The Congress stand has always been for a resolution of the Ayodhya issue, either through a negotiated settlement or judicial verdict. But there are fears that attempts may be made to polarise the situation, with leaders like SP’s Mulayam Singh Yadav and LJP’s Ram Vilas Paswan voicing the disappointment of Muslim organisations over the verdict and the RSS-VHP-BJP upping their demand for a Ram temple.

Singh, in fact, warned the BJP against politicising the Ayodhya issue. He described Ravi Shankar Prasad’s statement on the verdict as “offensive” and came down heavily on veteran leader L.K. Advani.

“The statement given by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on the verdict was better than that of L.K. Advani,” he said. Bhagwat had said the judgment was not a win or loss for anybody and invited everyone, including muslims, to help build the temple.