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NEW DELHI, INDIA, April 29, 2002: Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, the Kanchi Shankaracharya, says that by imposing President’s rule in Gujarat, peace could be restored to the disturbed state. He spoke to Narayani Ganesh of the Times of India in New Delhi, fresh from a trip to Ayodhya. Here are excerpts from the interview: “I went to Ayodhya to see for myself what the atmosphere is like, now. I did what ordinary citizens do — I offered prayers at the mandir. I did prarthana (prayer) for 15 minutes at the Ram Janambhoomi site. There is absolute shanti (peace) among the people of Ayodhya. Havan (fire ceremony) is in progress; kar seva (selfless service) is also going on. In Ayodhya, there are 10 mosques in good condition. Namaz is being offered, businesses are being conducted and children are going to school. Some 1,000 Muslims live there and there are 300 Muslim homes interspersed with Hindu homes, all living in peace. There are 108 mandirs. Four or five old mosques have fallen apart on their own; there’s no problem. There’s no local disturbance. It is the people who come from outside who create problems. They rake up long-forgotten issues — the so-called kar sevaks, the political activists and pracharaks and even some Muslims from Delhi and other places. Locally, Hindus and Muslims live amicably. Both communities feel that now those outside elements have left, peace will prevail. Time is a great healer, they say, and, therefore, it is only a matter of time before sectarian passions stoked by mischief-makers die down completely. They don’t want interference from Delhi.” With regard to the Gujarat riots, the Shankaracharya said, “This is my appeal. If a few members of a particular community commit violent acts, we cannot hold the entire community to ransom. The see-saw violence in Gujarat must be brought to an end forthwith. Peace should prevail. In Gujarat, the train incident happened. Protesting against violent acts is justified. But taking this to extreme forms of retaliation is not okay. If there was an action and it had a reaction, it doesn’t mean that this has to carry on. Peace should be restored.” Asked about “rajdharma,” the just rule of the king, His Holiness said, “What rajdharma? When there is no raja (king), how can there be rajdharma? We are a democracy. The praja (citizen) is supreme.” Asked if he was hopeful that one day a Ram temple would come up at the Janmabhoomi site, he replied, “(Laughs). Mandir or no mandir, Ram is present, anyway. So, how does it matter?”

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