Kancheepuram, June 13: The Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti mutt, Jayendra Saraswati, said here today a solution to the Ayodhya issue would be reached in two or three months provided the three parties engaged in dialogue and discussions continued to do so without "outside interference and confusion." The Centre, the Muslim groups as represented in the talks and he alone should participate in discussions, as any outside interference would only confuse matters, Saraswati said on his return to the mutt after a week-long tour of the north where he held discussions on Ayodhya issue.

When his attention was drawn to media reports about the Sufi religious leaders commenting on his solution, the Sankaracharya said the Sufis have hardly any sizeable presence in the country.

"Respected peetams (mutts) like Sringeri and others are with me," he said.

The Sankaracharya said he was not involving himself in the talks (to find a solution to the Ayodhya issue) for the sake of votes or for any personal gain. Even his predecessor, Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, had shown keen interest for an early solution to the issue.

Ali Mian, an important person on Ayodhya issue in the 80s, used to visit Kanchi mutt very frequently and "I am only following his guidelines," the seer said, adding parties which were criticising him today were not relevant for the discussions and those who matter and were involved in the talks had not said anything so far.

Bureau Report