The Ayodhya issue can be resolved either through court or mutual agreement between Hindus and Muslims, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said on Sunday.

"There is no change in the government's stand on the temple issue," he told a delegation of Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party leaders at his residence in New Delhi.

On Friday, he was quoted as saying that a grand Ram temple would come up at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

"Some criticism is being made on my statement. I want to make it clear that there is no change in our stand. Temple should be built there and we have been saying this, but it should be constructed with the cooperation of all," Vajpayee said.

Taking strong exception to Vajpayee's statement, the opposition had threatened to rake up the issue in Parliament on Monday.

Press Trust of India