Varanasi: A "best and permanent" solution to the Ayodhya issue could be found only through a negotiated settlement, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said today (Feb 20, 2004).

His Government was in touch with Muslim leaders and was interacting with them but it had not contacted Muslim Personal Law Board or any other such organisations at any level, Advani told an election rally.

He said that there were three ways to resolve the Ayodhya dispute, first enactment of a law, second a court verdict and the third negotiations.

"The first two ways may not be acceptable to all and the third could be a lasting solution," he said adding that the motive behind construction of Ram temple was to ensure better communal harmony.