The Hindu : Idols will remain where they are, says Kanchi Acharya

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 06, 2003

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Idols will remain where they are, says Kanchi Acharya

By Our Staff Reporter

Rajahmundry March 5. The Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Jayendra Saraswati says that ``the idols of Rama and others in Ayodhya would remain where they are at present and none would shift them, and a temple would be built there''. When it was pointed out that the issue was in court, he said ``the issue was about the disputed and undisputed areas in Ayodhya and there was no masjid.''

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday night, the Acharya advocated laws in all the States on the lines of the Tamil Nadu legislation to prevent forcible conversions. To a question on the controversy over the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, a foreigner by birth, becoming Prime Minister, he said: ``If people choose her, who are we to oppose? It is, however, for the politicians to address this issue''.

The Acharya opposed construction of new temples and said many temples were in a dilapidated condition. ``Let us renovate these temples first.''

The Kanchi Peetam would start 50 schools in different parts of the country. The syllabus would be the one adopted by the Government with provision for moral teaching. A 120-bed hospital for eye and orthopaedic patients would be built in Guntur.

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