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Fernandes meets Shankaracharya,
VHP meet begins

Hectic parleys continued on Tuesday to find a "workable solution" to the impasse in Ayodhya with the National Democratic Alliance convenor and Defence Minister George Fernandes calling on the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Jayendra Saraswathi early in the morning.

Fernandes, who has been in constant touch with top Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders to sort out the contentious issue, met the pontiff at the Kamakshi Mandir in south Delhi, sources close to the Shankaracharya said.

The meeting lasted over half-an-hour.

Union Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi had met the Shankaracharya late on Monday night.

The Kanchi seer has briefed VHP international working president Ashok Singhal on his talks with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the sources said.

During his over 90-minute meeting with the PM, the Shankarachrya is believed to have urged Vajpayee to lift the restrictions on the movement of karsevaks in Ayodhya and allow a 'symbolic' puja of the carved pillars (meant for the construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site) at the "undisputed" land, the sources said.

Vajpayee, on his part, is believed to have apprised the Shankaracharya of the limitations of the government and urged him to impress upon the VHP leadership to abandon its temple construction plans.

The VHP had on Monday announced its decision to go ahead with the shifting of carved pillars to the "Ram Janambhoomi site" at 1415 hours on March 15.

Meanwhile, top Hindu religious leaders and VHP top brass were holding a meeting at the VHP headquarters on Tuesday to discuss the situation following the meeting between the Shankaracharya and Vajpayee.

PTI

The Ayodhya Issue: Complete Coverage

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