Stage set for another temple run in UP

Ayodhya wants to exorcise its 24-year-old ghost that besmirched its name and make the town famous as a tourist destination
Image used for representational purpose only
Image used for representational purpose only

AYODHYA: Janmejaya Sharma is a self-trained tourist guide. The 24-year-old is one of scores of youth in the streets of Ayodhya ready to help tourists for a price. Demonetisation has dented his daily earnings. A graduate, born after December 6, 1992, the date which divides the temple town’s history into two eras. Like most of his generation, the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue doesn’t hold much significance for him. But he wants a grand Ram Temple in the town. “It will increase the tourist inflow,” he said, reflecting the feeling of present day Ayodhya, which lives under the shadow of trepidation as December 6 approaches. Ayodhya wants to exorcise this ghost. People want the town to be known as a tourist spot and not for a frenzied mob that besmirched its name 24 years ago.

Not only the commoners, even the town’s priests and mahants want the issue to be decided by the people of the twin-towns of Ayodhya and Faizabad and keep politicians at bay.  However, as UP is getting ready for polls, the Ram temple issue cannot remain on the back-burner for long. Although BJP leaders claim that the party will fight only on the development plank, there are few takers for it. “Politics of performance will be BJP’s poll plank,” says Vijay Bahadur Pathak, BJP state general secretary. “We don’t need to hide behind the temple issue. Even on demonetisation, we have full public support as the move will go a long way in strengthening the country’s economy.” Suryakant Pandey, a local Communist leader said, “The Sangh speaks in many voices. So while BJP cites SC case to show some restraint, VHP and Bajrang Dal are allowed to aggressively pursue the issue to keep it alive.”

VHP’s Sharad Sharma wants a solution within the ambit of the Constitution. “We want the government to pass a law for building a grand temple in Ayodhya.” Pandey believes the temple issue doesn’t have any traction with today’s youth. “RSS is sowing the seeds of communalism through cultural indoctrination. This, mixed with the dormant temple issue, becomes a lethal cocktail whenever elections arrive,” he said.
“With the negative impact of demonetisation being felt across the state, we fear that the temple issue will be surreptitiously injected into the poll stream,” says Niyaz Ahmad, a trader in Ayodhya. “The BJP has made firebrand MP Vinay Katiyar, who was in hibernation, convener and key speaker during its Parivartan Yatra. He has started raising the temple issue.” Even the SP government was criticised by the Opposition for its decision to set up a Ram Leela Park in Ayodhya, just after the BJP-led Central government declared construction of a giant Ramayana Museum. “Despite facing reverses, Muslims are waiting for the SC’s verdict, but parties fed on such situation for political gains,” says Khaleeq Ahmad Khan, a local.

Ayodhya Turns Fortress Ahead of Dec 6

Ayodhya: After 1992, December 6 has become a day of virtual curfew for Ayodhya. This year the state law and order machinery and district administration of Faizabad-Ayodhya is taking extra care as the demolition completes 24 years. Already a group from Bareilly has announced to conduct namaz at the site. Although there is no retaliatory announcement, the administration is not leaving anything to chance.
“We have alerted all DMs and police chiefs asking them to keep the situation under control,” said Principal Secretary, Home, Debashish Panda. The state’s announcement that the day would be a public holiday for Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar death anniversary must come as a blessing in disguise for the law and order apparatus.
Faizabad police chief Anant Dev said the administration would not let anything unconventional happen in Ayodhya on December 6. “Entry to Janmabhoomi campus will be allowed only under set rules,” he said.  Additional central forces contingents have been called in. In order to check terror activity, round-the-clock vigil is in place. by Namita Bajpai

Politicising Ayodhya

Lucknow: With the BJP in denial mode over making Ayodhya an election, SP and BSP are doubtful of their intentions. Avoiding a direct comment on the BJP trying to polarise people on communal lines, SP spokesman Mohammad Shahid said leaders such as Subramanian Swamy have raked up the issue with an intent to flare up communal tension. “But it is not possible here any more as elections will now be fought on the development plank,” he said. BSP MLA Umashankar Singh feels that as the move of demonetisation is bound to boomerang on the BJP in upcoming poll, the party is trying every trick to divert people’s attention to other issues.

over the years

December 6, 1992: Babri Masjid is demolished; it is followed by riots; RSS leaders arrested but released due to lack of evidence
December 16, 1992: Liberhan commission set up to probe the issue
1993: CBI starts probe and charge-sheet filed against LK Advani
and 19 others
May, 2001: Criminal conspiracy charges against Advani and MM Joshi dropped
Feb, 2002: VHP adamant on Shila Pujan for building of Ram temple. Over 58 people killed in Godhra car carnage. Riots follow
April, 2002: Allahabad HC starts hearing Ayodhya suit
2003: Court asks ASI to find out if a Ram temple existed at the site. ASI gives evidence of temple under the mosque.
Sept, 2003: CBI court rules that seven RSS leaders should stand trial but L K Advani spared.
2007: SC refuses to admit review plea on Ayodhya dispute.
June, 2009: Liberhan Panel submits report. Not made public.
May, 2010: HC dismisses CBI plea to revive criminal conspiracy charges against L K Advani
Sept 2010: Historic judgment divides disputed land in three parts—two for Hindus and one for the Muslim.
May, 2011: The SC stays HC verdict
Feb 2016: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy appeals to SC for urgent hearing

Religious heads speak

Mahant Ram Das, chief,
Nirmohi Akhara

Second-in-command in Nirmohi Akhara, he feels that parties have used the issue for their political gains. “Initially the politicians used to politicise the issue and public failed to understand their true designs. But now people are aware of their motive. They hardly respond to VHP’s fanatic calls. People want jobs, peace and amity. People want a relief from terrorism which has risen tangibly after demolition,” he says. On the issue of communal polarisation, he says parties like the BJP have politicised this temple row by dividing the society on communal lines for their vested political interest which should be stopped.

Maulana Yasoob Abbasi, prominent cleric
Strongly believes that the issues of religious faith, especially the Ayodhya issue, should not be politicised. “I condemn all those who mix religion with politics,” he says. On parties likely to make it a poll plank, the cleric said: “Temple or mosque issues are passé now. People can no more be mobilized or divided over such issues. Now development, job security, personal and professional growth are the issues which concern the common man. If it is not possible to resolve the issue..., the government should get a super speciality hospital... However, the issue is sub-judice and we will abide by what the Supreme Court decides.”

Dramatis Personae

While it is difficult to count all the players in the temple soap opera, these are the key figures.

Mahant Nritya Gopal Das: Head of the Ayodhya-based trust—Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas—that is responsible for the construction of the Ram Temple. Works in close coordination with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Both the trust and VHP are pressing for enactment of a law by Parliament to construct the temple

Iqbal Ansari, son of Hashim Ansari: The first to file a suit from the Muslim side in 1961, for restoration of Babri Masjid. With Hashim’s demise, his elder son is set to inherit the case. Hashim, in fact, had nominated Iqbal as his representative during his lifetime. Apart from being a plaintiff, Hashim was part of an out-of-court settlement. Iqbal, too, will follow his path.

Zafaryab Jilani: A feisty lawyer from Lucknow, he played a key role in formation of All India Babri Masjid Action Committee in 1986 and is now its convener. He is a member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board and represents Sunni Central Board in the title suit pending before the SC. Jilani has been appointed as state’s Additional Advocate General by the SP government.

Subramanian Swamy: Now a BJP MP, he is a staunch votary of ‘earliest’ completion of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He has moved the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing of the Ayodhya title suit pending before it since 2010. He has been quite vocal about Ayodhya and Ram Mandir issue and has said that since the Ram Mandir was a part of BJP’s election manifesto, it could not be ignored.

Justice (Retd) Palok Basu: Campaigned for an amicable solution as an ‘unofficial’ emissary of Sonia Gandhi during UPA II regime. He has collected a memo signed by Hindus, Muslims which says the disputed area will only have temple, but a mosque should be built in the 277 acres area acquired in the 80s for the temple.

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