Hindu and Muslim leaders on Monday met to negotiate ways to settle the decades-old dispute of the Babri Masjid and Ram Janmabhoomi site. Both parties asserted the need to find a peaceful way to resolve the Ayodhya issue in Uttar Pradesh.

The newly elected president of the All India Akhara Parishad, Mahant Narendra Giri, met with Hashim Ansari, who is the oldest surviving petitioner in the Babri Masjid case. Ansari said they are “always ready for talks”, and to put the issue to rest, they must find a solution that appeases both communities, PTI reported.

Giri, who was accompanied by other priests and sages during the meeting, said, “The settlement must be peaceful and should be acceptable to both the communities.” He added that they want that the Supreme Court to conduct daily hearings in the matter.