Knew mediation process to resolve Ayodhya dispute would fail, says Yogi Adityanath

A day after the Supreme Court decided to commence day-to-day hearing in the Ram janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case from August 6, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said he knew that the effort of the three-member mediation panel to resolve the decades-long Ayodhya dispute would fail.

The BJP leader, who was on a day-long visit to the city of Ayodhya, said, "We knew all along that nothing is going to come out of mediation". "But it is good. If there is an effort, it is a good thing," he stated while addressing a gathering of seers. "There had been mediation before the Mahabharat as well. But the effort failed," Adityanath added.

The chief minister was attending an event to mark the 16th death anniversary of Paramhans Ramchandra Das, a prominent advocate of a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

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The Supreme Court on Friday said it will hold day-to-day hearings from August 6 to decide the temple-mosque land dispute as efforts to arrive at a settlement through mediation had failed.

Early in the year, the top court had appointed a three-member mediation committee headed by a former Supreme Court judge FMI Kalifulla in March. The panel also included spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate and renowned mediator Sriram Panchu

Reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision to begin day-to-day hearings, Adityanath said he was confident that the sentiments of the people will be respected.

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The BJP leader said the campaign to build the Ram temple in Ayodhya was a people's movement, and lavished praise on Paramhans Ramchandra Das. "We are developing Ayodhya in this Kalyug as Ayodhya was in Treta Yug," he said, referring to mythical times.

Adityanath also inspected projects worth Rs 130 crore in the city, and said he has talked with seers and officials on Ayodhya's development and its tourism potential.

(With inputs from agencies)