Chennai: The Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, said on May 30, an amicable solution to the Ayodhya issue could be found if political parties "did not interfere" in the matter.

He made these remarks while responding to a question from newsmen at Meenambakkam airport before his departure to Delhi to participate in a Hindu Mela in the North on May 31.

When his attention was drawn to BJP president, Venkaiah Naidu’s recent observations that his party would be prepared to allow a mosque to come up next to a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, and the subsequent denial by Naidu, the pontiff said the BJP leader was making such observations "for the sake of getting some political mileage".

Asked whether Naidu had made such remarks keeping the coming assembly elections in mind, the Sankaracharya said he would not like to comment on it.

Pointing out that a Ram temple would be constructed at Ayodhya, the Sankaracharya said no one from the Babri Masjid committee had approached him recently for talks on the temple construction issue.

"Where is the question of holding any talks when no one has approached me?" he asked.

PTI