New Delhi, June 13: Barely a few days before his heart attack today, Ram Janambhoomi Nyas president Mahant Paramhamsa Ramchandra Dass had met Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani here in an effort to resolve the Ayodhya imbroglio. The highly confidential meeting was facilitated by new minister of state for home Swami Chinmayananda, who is also a member of VHP's Margdarshak Mandal, VHP sources said.

However, the meeting did not achieve much breakthrough as the religious leader from Ayodhya had been insisting on the Centre immediately handing over the 67 acres of acquired land to the trust headed by him, the sources said.
When asked about the meeting, VHP senior vice-president Acharya Giriraj Kishore merely said, "It appeared after the meeting that he had not got what he wanted. He has been sad since then. It has always been his desire to see the construction of a grand ram temple at the disputed site during his lifetime itself."

After last year's abortive 'shiladaan' attempt, the Mahant had criticised both Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and deputy prime minister L K Advani and vowed not to meet them on the issue.

Bureau Report