New Delhi, June 09: Reacting sharply to statement by Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati that a majority of Muslims favour construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya, the community leaders dismissed the claim as "wrong" and "baseless" and stressed the matter be left for the judiciary to decide. Muslim groups also questioned the pontiff's assertion that he was holding talks with the community, saying "neither he nor the government is talking to any authorised leader or organisation" and flayed him for praising former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao for installation of Lord Rama's idol at the disputed site after demolition of the mosque. "It is unfortunate that an esteemed religious leader like the Shankaracharya is making such a baseless claim," All India Muslim personal law board Convenor S Q R Ilyaas told a news agency here. "I don't know which responsible Muslim organisation or leader has favoured it," he said.

All India Milli Council leader M Manzoor Alam said the assessment of the Kanchi seer was "wrong".


"Even if he has conducted some kind of an opinion poll, he must not have reached nine per cent, what to talk about the majority," Alam said.

All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) president Syed Shahabuddin said the Kanchi Seer should reveal with which Muslim organisation or individual he was holding talks.

"I can say he is not holding any talks with any responsible or authorised Muslim organisation or individual," he said and added "agreements reached in dark rooms with unknown people will not resolve the matter."
Bureau Report