Muslim law board to debate Hindu seer's Ayodhya formula

The All India Muslim personal Law Board will convene a special meeting to discuss the formula suggested by Kanchi Shankaracharya Swami Jayendra Saraswati for resolving the Ayodhya dispute.

"Since the much-awaited Hindu seer's formula was received by the AIMPLB chief's office in Lucknow on Friday afternoon, we would not be putting it up before the 11- member Babri Masjid sub-committee meet in Delhi today (Saturday)," Board spokesman Maulana Sajjad Nomani said before his departure to Delhi.

Nomani added, "The packet has not yet been opened as it was addressed to the board president Maulana Rabe Hasan Nadwi, who was still not back in Lucknow.

"Let Maulana Rabe sahib take a look at it. Then it is upto him to call a separate meeting of the board's executive body to take a final decision on the offer," he said,

Though Nomani is not aware of the details of the formula, A Vishwa Hindu Parishad source claimed, "Our leaders succeeded in persuading the Shankaracharya not to mention about his oft repeated offer to withdraw the Hindu claim on the disputed shrines in Kashi and Mathura in lieu of the Muslim consent for construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya."

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is believed to have supported the seer's formula.

Babri sub-committee member Zafaryab Jilani has demanded that the Kanchi Shankaracharya's formula should be made public.