Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Ayodhya order: Let's work towards 'happy ending' of century-long struggle

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, one of the mediators appointed by the Supreme Court in Ayodhya case, took to Twitter to express his view on the order. “Respecting everyone, turning dreams to reality, ending long-standing conflicts happily and maintaining harmony in society - we must all move together towards these goals,” the spiritual guru said in one of the tweets. Another tweet in Hindi talked about happy ending for the century-long dispute. The Art of Living founder has been one of the prominent names who have advocated for the mediation in the title dispute. 

 

Respecting everyone, turning dreams to reality, ending long-standing conflicts happily and maintaining harmony in society - we must all move together towards these goals.#ayodhyamediation

— Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (@SriSri) March 8, 2019

Last year, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had said that, "I want unity...I want amity. This is just a beginning. We will talk to all." The spiritual guru had also met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. After the meeting, the Art of Living founder had said that, "As far as the Ayodhya issue is concerned, the chief minister's stand is very clear. The state government is not a party (to the dispute). We welcome any settlement and will honour the decision of the court."

Contrary to today’s stand, the VHP and AIMPLB had rejected the relevance of mediation efforts by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. "It is being said that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is talking to all the stakeholders in the case but he has not yet contacted the top leadership of All India Muslim Personal Law Board which is leading the Muslim side," AIMPLB general secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani had said. He said Ravi Shankar had made a similar move to resolve the dispute some 12 years ago and concluded that the disputed site be handed over to Hindus.

UP's Shia Waqf Board, which has impleaded itself in the case, has been siding with the Hindu parties to the case, with its chairman Wasim Rizvi saying no new mosque should be built in either Ayodhya or neighbouring Faizabad as part of the formula mooted by it to resolve the dispute. He had said since the Babri mosque was a Shia shrine, the board will identify a piece of land in a Muslim-dominated area for it and inform the government.