Hyderabad, May 29: In a volte face, the BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu today said he never favoured construction of mosque alongside the Ram temple at Ayodhya and termed media reports to this effect as 'misinterpretation'. "I did not mean that mosque can be constructed close to the temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram. It can be built in a place which has concentration of Muslim population," Naidu told a news agency here.

He said a needless controversy should not be created over the issue.

"Our stand on Ayodhya is very clear. A grand temple should be built at the birthplace of Ram. It can happen either through mutual consent, court verdict or a legislation. A mosque can also be built but at a place away from it," the BJP chief said.

Seeking to wriggle out of a delicate situation created by his remarks at a rally in Uttar Pradesh yesterday, Naidu put his views in perspective at the party's crucial brainstorming session here today.

He told a meeting of party's state unit presidents and secretaries that his remarks on mosque construction were 'misunderstood' by the media.

Bureau Report