Politicians and parties ... would do well to heed the call of the Shankaracharya of Kanchi, Swami Jayendra Saraswati, to keep off the Ram Janambhoomi-Babari Masjid controversy ... The sage of Kanchi has urged politicians to stop any further dabbling in this issue in the greater interest of the country. Instead, he has suggested that they should turn their attention to the pressing problems of poverty, price rise, unemployment and tensions from across the border ... He feels that for all practical purposes the subject had been closed after the demolition of the mosque at Ayodhya, and whether or not there should be a temple in its place could be decided only by the followers of both religions ... His message carries particular significance for the BJP-led government

.. The suggestion now made by the Shankaracharya can be seized by the BJP to free itself of the pressures of rabid elements in the Hindutva ranks, and move towards a reconciliation.