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Efforts on to resolve Ayodhya issue: PM

Asserting that the Ayodhya issue should not be allowed to develop into "a festering wound", Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Saturday favoured an out of court settlement to resolve it.

However, he said that the government would take steps to expedite the court cases.

"Efforts are on to resolve the vexed issue and we are prepared to contribute to it. Ayodhya tends to become an election issue, but it neither benefits nor harms anybody," Vajpayee said in the Lok Sabha.

Refusing to go into as to how the Gujarat violence began, the prime minister said what was needed now was to keep a close watch on the developments.

Vajpayee said both Ayodhya and Gujarat crises had been overcome because of the inherent strength of the country and not because of the efforts of a particular party.

He also ruled out resumption of talks with Pakistan till it ended cross-border terrorism.

"Infiltration of terrorists from across the border has not stopped nor have terrorists' acts being committed in the country," he said, adding that the ground situation would be assessed only after snow melted in the mountains along the border.

On the list of 20 terrorists and criminals wanted by India from Pakistan, he said: "Efforts are still on but there has been no progress so far."

PTI

The Ayodhya Issue: Complete Coverage

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