President Kalam calls on Kanchi seer

President Abdul Kalam on Thursday called on Sri Jayendra Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, in Kanchipuram and held talks.

The visit, particularly the timing, assumes significance in the light of the Kanchi seer's revised proposals sent to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board for finding a settlement to the Ayodhya dispute.

Emerging from the talks, the President evaded questions if the talks covered the Ayodhya issue. "We discussed how religion can be enriched to become a spiritual force," was all that he would tell waiting newsmen.

The pontiff, who was accompanied by Sri Sankara Vijayendra, denied political significance to the President's visit. "He could not be present at the golden jubilee celebrations of my ascendancy at Chennai. Hence, the visit," he explained.

Sri Jayendra Saraswati said he was working on a negotiated settlement to the Ayodhya dispute. "A solution is on the cards," he said, without going into the details.

Kalam later offered namaz at the mosque adjoining the Kanchi mutt.