Sri Sri Ravi Shankar during a mass meditation session in Worli, Mumbai. Express Photo by Nirmal Harindran.
Urging the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) to consider an out-of-court settlement to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has said if the issue is not resolved amicably, then the country may face a “large-scale” communal flare up.
Sri Sri wrote an open letter to the AIMPLB members saying going through the court was a loss for both Hindus and Muslims and an out-of-court settlement would be a “win-win situation” for both the communities.
“I urge the leaders of both faiths to take this action seriously. Otherwise, we are pushing our country to the brink of a civil war,” said Ravi Shankar, who has been making mediation efforts, meeting Muslim and Hindu leaders, to find a solution to the dispute.
In the letter, Sri Sri gave four possible situations to the AIMPLB — the court giving away the land to the Muslims, awarding the land to the Hindus, upholding the Allahabad High Court order that says there should be a mosque built on one acre whilst the remaining 60 acres be utilised to build the temple and Parliament passing a legislation.
“In all the four options, either through the court or through the government, the result will be devastating for the nation in general and the Muslim community in particular,” he said.
Ravi Shankar said the best solution would be an out-of-court settlement, in which the Muslim bodies come forward and gift one acre of land to the Hindus, who, in turn, would gift five acres of land nearby to the Muslims to build a bigger mosque.
He also told the AIMPLB leaders that Islam permitted the shifting of the mosque to another location and that cleric Maulana Salman Nadvi and many other Muslim scholars had endorsed it.
Ravi Shankar, however, said, “Muslims are not surrendering this land to the people who demolished the Babri Masjid or to a particular organisation.
“On the contrary, they are gifting it to the people of India. They must keep this in their minds and spirit. It is only reconciliation and an expression of their broad- mindedness, benevolence, magnanimity and goodwill.”
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case on March 14.
(With PTI inputs)
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- Mar 6, 2018 at 9:00 pmIt is not becoming of Sri Sri Ravishankar talking of "civil war". What is the idea of disturbing communal harmony? Talk about spirituality!Reply
- Egg HeadMar 6, 2018 at 8:56 pmHas his Art of Living (AOL) paid the penalty of Rs. 5 Crores imposed by NGT, or is the case sub judice or moving forward or in limbo. When the Apex Court is seized of the 'Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri Masjid' case, how dare he think of Civil War breaking out. Who is he to suggest barter while he is a non parti ting actor in the case. There are many preachers let him continue with preaching.Reply
Venkat PokkunuriMar 6, 2018 at 8:56 pmplease, in this complex and democrctic country, every one keep their mouth clean by not giving such a voilentstatements specifically from a person like Ravi shankar.Reply- Mar 6, 2018 at 8:46 pmSri Sri is indulging in inciting RSS and Hindu organizations before SC hearing on March 14. His this talk is backed by BJP from back door to intimidate Judges of SC. He must be punished for contempt of the court suo moto.Reply
- Mar 6, 2018 at 8:36 pmSri Sri is hinting on a genocide if the minority is not willing to give away to the demands of the religious evil fundamentalist who win the election in the name of fear, terror and religion. Look at Nagaland, Tripura , Meghalya - all good work of RSS and promise of good government by Modi !!!! Look at Gujarat , Rajasthan - after 20 years of power the corrupt BJP went on to attack congress , put the fear of Muslims and win Gujarat by thin majority. But mostly lost the faith of people. Where is the good work of RSS and BJP? where is the leadership of MODI. MODI should be honest and explain why most of the Gujarat rejected BJP. Arrest Sri Sri and throw him to America - where he lives and makes his millions. If he is real and true Indian he will live and work for people in India.Reply
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