Stance On Ayodhya Not To Appease Muslims: Thackeray

Shiv Sena president Bal Thackeray yesterday said his suggestion for a national monument at the disputed Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya was not made in order to appease Muslims or seek that communitys votes for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Replying to criticism on the controversial suggestion by organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Thackeray said I made the suggestion keeping in mind the larger national interests. However, the Sena chief made it clear that he has not abandoned his Hindutva ideology while suggesting that the national monument should come up at Ayodhya.

And both Hindus and Muslims should be given a suitable place at the site to build a temple and a masjid.

I am not bothered what people like Mulayam Singh think about my proposal but the country cannot afford another bout of communal riots on this issue, Thackeray said in a front-page article in the Marathi daily, Saamna, of which he is also the editor.