Akhara Parishad's Mahant Gyandas slams BJP leader Vinay Katiyar for mosque remarks

Ayodhya, Oct.16 (ANI): Mahant Gyandas, one of the main petitioners in the Ayodhya mosque-temple land title suit, slammed Bharatiya Janata Party Vice President Vinay Katiyar here on Saturday over his alleged comments which favoured the Muslim community in the issue related to construction of mosque in Ayodhya.

He also sought Katiyar's dismissal from the BJP.

Gyandas is a priest of a 200 centuries old temple and President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (council)

"Which Muslim asked him to solve their issue? First, ensure to us as to where to build the mosque? How can he say that the Muslims should first make a decision as to where the mosque will be built? Who is he to decide this?" said Mahant Gyandas.

He also said that the utterances of Katiyar would be taken up with the top leadership of the BJP.

"I will talk to the high command of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Advani and the party president Gadkari (Nitin Gadkari) to remove such kind of leaders or either leave us. We are not going to keep any links with them (BJP)," said Gyandas.

"If these kind of fake leaders are there in the party then whatever little existence the party has today, will also be finished. We priests, monks and ascetics will not tolerate this," he added.

Gyandas, however, also clarified that he was only against Katiyar and not the BJP since he is not displeased with the High Court's impartial verdict.

A three-judge Bench of the Allahabad High Court ruled on September 30 that the Ramlala idol would remain on the disputed land in Ayodhya, deeming it Lord Ram's birthplace.

The court divided the 2.77 acre disputed site among three parties, The Sunni Waqf Board; The Nirmohi Akhara and the party representing 'Ram Lala Virajman'. The 8000 page verdict came after nearly 60 years of litigation on the title dispute.

The Sunni Waqf Board has, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgement and decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Ayodhya verdict. By Amit (ANI)