Babri issue: Shia Waqf Board chief meets Yogi

Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi held a meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday.

The meeting comes days after announcing that a settlement proposal to resolve the vexed Ram Temple-Babri Mosque dispute would soon be prepared by the Shia Waqf Board.

A source said, Rizvi, who has publicly voiced his support for the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, apprised the chief minister about the proposal and his plan to meet the seers of the temple town to discuss the issue.

Rizvi had said a couple of days ago that the draft proposal for the settlement would be ready before December 6.

The disputed structure in Ayodhya was demolished by the 'kar sevaks' on the same day in 1992.

The Shia Waqf Board chairman had also met Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar at Bengaluru a few days ago and discussed the issue.

The meeting assumes significance as Adityanath had said that he was in favour of a peaceful settlement and was ready to mediate if the parties concerned so desire.

Another source said Rizvi would soon be visiting Ayodhya to meet the Hindu seers and Muslim clerics and would put forward his proposal.

However, the Sunni Central Waqf Board, a party in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid Title suits, and a section of the Shia clergy have not shown any enthusiasm towards the proposal.

"We are not against a peaceful settlement but the chances of a negotiated settlement are very slim," said a senior Sunni cleric.

Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad also voiced doubts over the success of attempts to resolve the matter out of court.