Mediation won't solve Ayodhya dispute, need ordinance: Sena

Ram Janmabhoomi is an emotional issue and cannot be resolved through mediation, the Shiv Sena said Saturday, asking the Centre to promulgate an ordinance and start the construction of Ram temple.

When the country's politicians, rulers and the Supreme Court have not been able to resolve the issue so far, what would the three mediators do, the party asked.

Giving another chance for mediation, the apex court had on Friday ordered the setting up a three-member panel headed by a former SC judge F M I Kalifulla to explore a possible settlement of the decades-old politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya.

Spiritual guru and founder of Art of Living foundation Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu, well known for his mediation experience, will be the other two members of the panel.

The Sena said the apex court has deferred a decision on the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute and the matter will now be decided only after the Lok Sabha elections.

"The only question is that if the issue could be resolved through mediation, why did the dispute continue for 25 years and why hundreds of people had to lose their lives?" it asked in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"The country's politicians, rulers and the Supreme Court have not been able to resolve the issue and what would the mediators achieve now."