New Delhi: Government today (May 28, 2004) said it favours continuation of the dialogue process to solve the Ayodhya dispute, but stressed it will not involve itself directly in the talks and any agreement reached outside the court would have to get the judiciary's approval as a decree.

"We are of the view that court will decide the issue (Ram Temple) and its order will be binding on all parties and we will not involve ourselves directly," Home Minister Shivraj Patil told the All India Radio in an interview.

"If anybody wants to go ahead (with the negotiations), we will not, however, stop them from doing so. Our stand continues to be that court will settle the issue. And having achieved (out of court) settlement, it will have to go to court and take the form of a decree," he said.

Asked if the Sangh Parivar would raise the issue again, Patil said, "They should learn the lesson and not agitate but help the harmony, peace and tranquillity in the country to prevail. When they came to power, they realised that even in power, they were not able to build the temple."

Patil evaded a direct reply to whether the Congress-led Government would use Article 356 to bring down the Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat. He said, "We would like to be correct and just. If Constitutional machinery in a State has broken down, a decision can be taken and need not be taken otherwise."