Despite all-out politicisation, the voice of reason is still heard. During a visit to Calcutta, Syed Shahabuddin, ex-MP, appealed for sanity and urged the Imams to appear in court and not confront it "over a non-issue". The Congress and BJP feel the matter should be left to the court, while the Left Front ha snot intervened. Explained a BJP leader: "The astute Shahabuddin knows, unlike Shams and Mamata, that if Muslims don't listen to the court on what they feel are religious matters, it can encourage the VHP to take a similar line on the Babari Masjid question".                                                                   (Source: The Outlook, 27 July, 1998)