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Kolkata: The All Indian United Muslim Morcha (AIUMM) on July 18 urged the Centre to settle the Ayodhya dispute permanently by handing over the disputed land to Hindus and in turn remove religious restrictions from Article 341 to include Dalit Muslims in the scheduled caste category.

Advocating the "give and take" formula, national president of AIUMM Dr M Ejaz Ali told a press meet that the formula had received positive response from both Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader and Union Minister of State for Home Swami Chinmayanand, as well as the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).

Ali claimed that the Patna-based AIUMM had arrived at the formula after receiving the consensus of 60 per cent of the country's entire Muslim population residing in 10 states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

"We want a permanent solution to this issue and for that one group has to withdraw its claim on the disputed land. As it is we have so many mosques languishing for want of maintenance. We have decided to concentrate on other issues plaguing the minority community instead," he said.

Pointing out that 85 per cent of Muslims were below the poverty line with a literacy rate below seven per cent, he said the root cause of "such a horrible" condition was their exclusion from Article 341 on religious grounds.

"Initially in 1935, there was no religious restriction and Dalits of every religion were entitled to avail the facilities extended to scheduled castes. But after the religious ban in 1950, they have been deprived of these facilities sealing all roads for their economic development," he added.

PTI