New Delhi: On a peace mission to resolve the Ayodhya imbroglio, Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati on February 4 asked VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) and RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) leaders to tone down their "aggressive posture" even as he is believed to have urged Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to remove all legal hurdles in handing over the "undisputed land" to Ram Janambhumi Nyas to pave the way for temple construction.

The Kanchi Seer, who had been holding parleys with VHP and Muslim leaders since the failure of his peace mission ahead of the 'Shiladaan' programme in March 2002, today met Vajpayee for over an hour after talking among others to senior Sangh Parivar bigwigs including VHP leader Ashok Singhal.

The Shankaracharya also met some Muslim leaders.

While fully supporting the VHP's contention that the "undisputed" land should be handed over to the Nyas, the Pontiff asked Singhal to tone down the "aggressive posture and language of the outfit's leaders" in order to create a conducive atmosphere for the peaceful settlement of the issue, highly placed sources told reporters.

Singhal, on his part, accused the government of repeatedly "backtracking" on its commitments including the one it gave to the Seer last time with regard to allowing 'Shiladaan' at the "undisputed site" in lieu of which VHP had agreed to abide by the court verdict on the disputed site.

The Seer, who was visited by RSS joint general secretary in charge of BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Madan Das Devi and joint spokesman Ram Madhav, told them to "restrain" VHP leaders from making statements which could sour the atmosphere.

PTI