Exclusive: With Sri Sri opposing Supreme Court route, talks only way forward in Ayodhya issue?

In an exclusive interview with India Today TV's Padmaja Joshi, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who has been holding parleys with the various parties involved in the Ram Mandir issue for a long time, said, "If Ram Mandir issue is not solved, we will have a Syria in India."

Sri Sri invoked the Syrian civil war in the explosive interview with India Today, to say that Muslims should "give up" their claims on Ayodhya. "Muslims should give up their claim on Ayodhya as a goodwill gesture... Ayodhya is not place of faith for Muslims."

The Ayodhya mediator said Islam does not allow worship at a disputed site. "We cannot make Lord Rama to be born in another place," he said.

Sri Sri also rubbished suggestions that a public utility like a hospital should be built at the disputed site.

"Some people are opposing my efforts because they thrive on conflict. All people will never agree with the court verdict," He said.

Listen in for the full interview.