Ranchi, June 03: The Shankaracharya of Kanchi Sri Jayendra Saraswathi today said he was very much associated with the Ayodhya issue and expressed hope that the Ram temple would be constructed at the site very soon. Denying having said that he had dissociated himself from the negotiations with regard to Ayodhya dispute, he said ''I am very much connected with the issue. Now Lord Rama is installed in a 'jhopri' (dingy) and very soon the Lord will get his original abode in Ayodhya.''

Disapproving the digging of the site at Ayodhya, the Shankaracharya said nothing would come out of it.

Asked whether he was tolerant to other religions, he said: "We are all Indians first. Religion comes later."

The Shankarachyara, who was here to attend a function at Rani Sati Mandir where Chief Minister Arjun Munda and Governor M Rama Jois were present, appealed to the Jharkhand government to follow Tamil Nadu by enacting a law to stop conversion.

"I appeal to the Munda government to follow the Tamil Nadu government and stop conversion through allurement," he added.

Asked whether he agreed sadhus and sadhvis contesting elections, he said "those who participate in political elections are not sadhus."

Bureau Report