Kolkata: Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Nischalanand Saraswati on July 5 opposed the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) demand for trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and said this would not solve the problems facing the state.

"The Kashmir issue cannot be solved through trifurcation of the state. Division is not the answer. All parties should sit together to find ways to resolve the problems facing the state," the Shankaracharya of Gobardhan Math (Puri), told reporters.

The real issue, he said, was development of the region, particularly areas East of Ladakh.

"The country has already seen a number of divisions. If division could solve problems, there would not have been any tension between India and Pakistan," he said.

Turning to the vexed Ayodhya problem, the Shankaracharya said that all political parties were using it "as a shield to protect their vested interests and thus complicating matters".

Asked about the recent statement of VHP that it would not abide by the order of the Supreme Court, the Shankaracharya said the political parties and not the court, should take steps for amicable solution of the issue.

The seer said that there were a number of options that could be considered for settlement of the Ayodhya problem, including declaration of the place as "Ramlila Janambhumi".

But, if any decision goes in favour of the Hindus, Muslims might not accept it in the current situation, he said.

PTI