AYODHYA, Dec 10: BJP president L K Advani's proposal to Muslims that they allow construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and he would help them resolve the tangle at Mathura and Kashi shrines has evoked sharp reactions from both Muslim leaders as well as from his own party and its allies, the VHP and Bajrang Dal."There is no question of relinquishing our claim on any of the three shrines" former Bajrang Dal chief Vinay Katiyar told The Indian Express.The reactions of convenor of Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, Mahant Paramhans Ram Chandra Das, VHP working president Ashok Singhal and Parishad general secretary, Acharya Giriraj Kishore are also similar.The Mahant feels Muslims don't have any claim whatsoever on any of the three shrines, which were constructed only after demolishing temples. "We can't forfeit our claim on the three temples in any case" he said.Singhal exposes futility of Advani's idea by saying since Muslims won't give up their claim from Ayodhya shrine. Political observers see in Advani's statement an attempt to increase its acceptability among various regional parties in the post-poll scenario. Among others, the Samajwadi Party terms the idea as "an insult to Muslims." The SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav says it was like rubbing salt on old wounds. His state party president, Ram Saran Das says the Advani's concept is "absurd". Muslim religious leaders too are not ready to give up their claim from Babri Mosque in Ayodhya. "We are already engaged in legal battle on Babri Mosque and have also pledged to abide by the court decision. There is no question of forfeiting our claim" says convenor of All India Babri Masjid Action Committee, Zafaryab Jilani.BMAC's legal advisor, Abdul Mannan claims that the issue in Mathura and Kashi was different from the one in Ayodhya. "They have already razed our holy structure to the ground in Ayodhya while those in Mathura and Kashi are still fully safe" he says.Jilani adds that after December 6, 1992 BJP could not be trusted. "When Kalyan Singh allowed demolition of Babri Mosque despite promising its safety at every fora, the courts as well as in National Integration Council, how can we go by Advani's words" he says."How would Advani feel if Muslims staked claim on some temple" he asks.
