Bangalore: RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh) today (Jan 16, 2004) expressed hope that the vexed Ayodhya issue would be resolved in the next few months, with optimism stemming from the Dalai Lama's intervention and an atmosphere for a negotiated settlement currently prevailing in the country on the dispute.

RSS spokesman Ram Madhav told reporters in Bangalore that an atmosphere for a negotiated settlement on Ayodhya has been created, "away from usual rhetoric of court settlement".

Madhav said RSS, the Government and a good number of Muslim leaders have welcomed the Dalai Lama's appeal for settling the Ayodhya issue across the table. "Prudence demands this initiative (by Dalai Lama) is supported by one and all and effort is made for a solution," he added.

He said RSS is keen for a negotiated settlement on the Ayodhya issue soon but not in haste.

RSS, he also pointed, had several meetings with different religious groups in the past two years and chose to mention its recent discussion with Jamaat-i-Ulema-e-Hind. There is now a "feel good" factor on the Ayodhya issue also, he said. RSS is confident that a definite progress on its settlement would be achieved.

"After the intervention of the Dalai Lama, there will be a lot of progress. We hope to have solution to the Ayodhya issue in the next few months," Madhav said. "Response to Dalai Lama's appeal give us hope that things appear to be moving in the right direction."

There is a feeling in the country to give negotiated settlement a chance, Madhav said. "Those who are involved (in discussions) give us a feeling for early solution." He revealed that Kanchi Shankaracharya's proposal went "very close to solution until somebody went to Supreme Court".

Madhav asserted that building Ram temple in Ayodhya is "central to the whole exercise", adding the question is regarding how to go about it.

Meanwhile, RSS said while the current Indo-Pak peace moves are welcome, what's needed now is cautious optimism rather than euphoric enthusiasm. Given the "long history" of Indo-Pak relations, the road to peace is not smooth and there are a lot of pitfalls, he said.