Rs 20 cr Ayodhya pay-off deal with Sunni Waqf board?

Vested interests have thrown a spanner in Sri Sri’s works: one of the stakeholders in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case – the chief of Nirmohi Akhada – has alleged that there is back-channel chatter about a deal to pay Rs 20 crore to the Sunni Waqf Board. This is supposed to be the pay-off to goad the board into relinquishing its claim to the disputed site in Ayodhya.

The point man for the back channel negotiations is purportedly Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who incidentally arrived in Ayodhya on Thursday to give a push to the ‘consensus’ approach to the simmering dispute.

As expected, the allegation of the chief of the Nirmohi Akhada, Mahant Dinendra Das, cast a shadow on Sri Sri’s visit and he tried to downplay the reconciliation efforts by saying that the issue was an old one, and cannot be resolved quickly. “The issue is an age-old one, and it might take some time to resolve. Right now, I don’t have any formula, but, yes, everybody will be taken into confidence, only then can anything be worked out. The message of brotherhood is also important.”

As scheduled, he met the chief of Ram Janam Bhumi Nyas, Mahant Nrityagopal Das, and visited both Hanumangarhi and Ram Lala amid chants of ‘Jai Shree Ram’.

During his visit, Ravi Shankar will also meet litigants in Babri case -- Iqbal Ansari and Haji Mehboob. Speaking to media, Ansari said that Sri Sri is welcome in Ayodhya. He should come and visit Ram Lala, but the solution to the dispute will only be found through court. “I will meet Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and try to understand the formula. However, the chances of any kind of negotiations are very bleak,” said Ansari.

Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has ruled out the need for a dialogue over the Ayodhya dispute, saying that archaeological evidence in the matter was in favour of the Hindus, and courts go by proof.