The Hindu : Kanchi Acharya appeals for unity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 06, 2003

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Kanchi Acharya appeals for unity

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI July 5. The Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswati, has appealed for Hindu-Muslim unity to ensure that the Ayodhya issue is resolved peacefully.

In a statement to The Hindu, the Acharya, who has submitted a proposal for consideration by the Muslim Personal Law Board at its meeting on Sunday, said his intention was only to protect the interests of both the communities.

The statement noted: "The word Ayodhi means that nobody can win through a war. Many countries in the world have accepted and portrayed Rama as a noble character. It is not proper for people to fight over the place where he was born. It is unfortunate that some are even hurting the sentiments or feelings of another community over the Ayodhya issue. Anybody who incites violence over Rama, who was a model for Bhakti and culture, deserves to be condemned. People of each community must follow their religious tenets and, at the same time, they must ensure that they do not hurt the religious sentiments of another community. Lord Rama must bless them with peace and tranquillity. Sabko sanmathi de bhagavan".

``This initiative was launched by us to bring about unity between Hindus and Muslims so that all work at Ayodhya proceeds properly'', he said.

The Acharya said: "Our intention is to protect the interests of both the communities through a dialogue. All organisations and important leaders must understand this initiative in its proper perspective."

Meanwhile, in a joint statement, the Universal Association for Spiritual Awareness, the Anjuman Minhaj-e-Rasool and the Sanathan Dharma Raksha Samithi, requested the Kanchi Acharya to talk to "all the leading Ulema and prominent Muslim organisations of India, instead of some organisations, and we request some of the brethren of Muslims and Hindus who do not understand it (the Acharya's initiative) properly to comprehend the real situation and act accordingly so that better understanding between both the communities emerges in the larger national interest.'' They issued the statement after a meeting with the Acharya.

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