Amid the ongoing controversy over the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh supremo Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said a way out of the dispute must be found by mutual consent. History cannot be changed and there is no need to look for Shivlings in every mosque, Bhagwat said.
His remarks assumes significance as several right-wing outfit leaders, including a few ministers of the Bharatiya Janata Party, have been making volatile comments over the issue.
“We can't change history. Neither today's Hindus nor today's Muslims created it. It happened at that time. Islam came from outside via attackers. In the attacks, Devsthans were demolished to exhaust morale of those who wanted India's independence,” Bhagwat said at the concluding ceremony of an RSS training programme in Nagpur.
The RSS chief said the court's decision should be accepted as supreme and asserted that the Sangh was not interested in launching any further agitations after the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
"We shouldn't bring out a new matter daily. Why should we escalate dispute? We have devotion towards Gyanvapi and we are doing something as per that, it is alright. But why look for a Shivling in every masjid?" he asked.
Bhagwat said the ancestors of today's Muslims were Hindus and said issues should not be viewed with mutual antipathy.
"Issues were raised over places in which Hindus have a special devotion. Hindus don't think against Muslims. The ancestors of today's Muslims were Hindus too. It was done to keep them forever devoid of independence and suppress morale. So Hindus feel they (religious places) should be restored," he said.
A Varanasi court had earlier ordered videography and survey of the religious place on a plea by a group of women demanding permission for daily worship and performing rituals at Shringar Gauri, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman and Nandi located on the outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque.
