Jodhpur: A Jain body on March 9 staked claim to the disputed site in Ayodhya, saying the demolished structure was built on the remnants of an ancient Jain temple, which would be proved during excavation to be carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

"The only structure that could be found during excavation would be a sixth Century Jain temple," Jain Samata Vahini, a social organisation of the Jains, said in a statement.

The demolished disputed structure was actually built on the remnants of an ancient Jain temple, and the excavation by ASI, ordered by Allahabad High Court to settle the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi dispute, would prove it, general secretary of Jain Samata Vahini, Sohan Mehta, said.

"We want the site to be handed over to us in case a Jain temple is found," he said.

Mehta said the national executive of the Vahini, which met on March 6, decided to stake claim to the disputed site and make efforts to become a party in the Ayodhya case pending before the Allahabad High Court.

It is a well known fact that Ayodhya was the place where five Jain 'teerthankars', Rishabhdeo, Ajeeth Nath, Abhinandanji, Sumati Nath and Anant Nath, stayed and the ancient city was among the five biggest centres of Jainism and Buddhism till 450 years ago, Mehta asserted quoting writings of 18th Century Jain monks.

PTI