Maulana Salman Nadvi now accused of striking Rs 5,000 cr deal on Ayodhya

Expelled All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) executive member Maulana Salman Nadvi is now accused of striking a deal for settling Ayodhya land dispute for Rs 5,000 crore and a Rajya Sabha seat in lieu of surrendering the disputed land for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The allegation was leveled by Ayodhya Sadbhavna Samnvaya Committee chairman Amarnath Mishra. He has alleged that Maulana Nadvi wanted to strike a deal with the Art of Living Foundation Sri Sri Ravishanker for settling the land dispute out of court for Rs 5,000 crore.

After denial from Maulana Nadvi, Mishra has lodged an FIR at the Hasanganj Police Station in Lucknow to probe charges he has leveled against Maulana Nadvi.

"I had met Maulana Nadvi on February 5 to discuss the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri mosque issue. He had asked me to submit a draft for raising the issue during Board meeting for settling the issue. Maulana Nadvi wanted to construct a Mecca-like mosque in Ayodhya and for that he had demanded 200 acres land, Rs 5000 crore and Rajya Sabha membership," alleged Mishra.

Mishra is a close associate of Sri Sri Ravishanker and he was instrumental in inviting and arranging meeting of both groups with the Spiritual leader in Bengalaru, Ayodhya and Lucknow. He is also extremely close to Kanchi Shankaracharya Jagatguru Jayendra Saraswati who had also made attempts in the past to settle the land dispute out of court.

Mishra claimed that he had a telephonic conversation with Maulana Nadvi on February 3 and after that he had gone to Nadwa College on February 5 to discuss the issue. "During the meeting, Maulana Nadvi had raised several demands for surrendering the disputed land to Hindus. He had assured to raise the issue during the Board meeting in Hyderabad on February 9 to settle the dispute," he charged.

Mishra alleged that before raising the issue at the Board meeting, Maulana Nadvi led a delegation and met Sri Sri Ravishanker on February 8 and leaked the draft formula for settlement to the media. "This infuriated the Board Chairman and members and he was expelled," he claimed.

Maulana Salman Nadvi has, however, denied Mishra's charges saying he had never met him. "It is a conspiracy to widen the gulf between the two communities. I just wanted an amicable out of court solution for establishing peace and communal harmony in the country. I did not strike any deal for that with anyone," clarified Maulana Nadvi.

After denial of Maulana Nadvi, Mishra has lodged a complaint with the Hasanganj Police Station against Maulana Nadvi. "I have all evidences to prove that meeting had taken place and Maulana Nadvi wanted to strike a deal. Police may check Nadwa College CCTV footage to verify whether or not I met Maulana Nadvi on February 5," claimed Mishra.

To prove his point, Mishra claimed that Imam Council General Secretary Haji Masroor Hasan Khan was also present during their meeting at the Nadwa College. Haji Masroor Hasan Khan has supported Mishra claims. "The two had met at Nadwa College on February 5 in my presence and Maulana Nadvi had demanded Rs 5,000 crore during talks," said Khan.

"Maulana Nadvi had sent their charter of demands to Sri Sri Ravi Shanker's office which was rejected as Guruji was not in favour of striking any deal on the issue but to settle it amicably with the consent of all petitioners," he said.

With allegations and counter allegations from both camps and AIMPLB taking a rigid stand, any out of settlement to the contentious Ayodhya land dispute through talks seems unlikely in near future.