Once the Hindutva brigade decided that there is no other option for it but to refocus on the now forgotten Babri-Masjid Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, the entire captive media launched a campaign to revive the issue and rouse the people’s sentiments. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and its allied organisations announced to hold a ‘huge’ Parishad to finalise the programme for construction of the temple at the very site where centuries old Babri Masjid stood till December 6, 1992 when the goons of the Sangh Parivar demolished it.
All sorts of statements by all varieties of Hindutva leaders including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi were published and telecasted to create an emotional atmosphere in Ayodhya so that anything can happen when people gather for the VHP Sammelan in Ayodhya. Prime Minister even alleged that the apex court judges were influenced by the previous ruling party to delay decision in Babri Masjid demolition case. Others suggested that the Modi government should resort to issuing an ordinance or executive order to start the construction of the mandir at the disputed site.
An impression was sought to be created that there was no other legal issue to be sorted out but to start the construction of the temple. To further emotionalise the atmosphere a reign of terror was unleashed in and around Faizabad district that has been re-named as Ayodhya. In Kanpur and one more district of UP communal violence was sparked and it was predicted that there may be more communal violence before the VHP meet.
Despite all that propaganda and built up, the VHP meet was a total flop. Hindutva forces had claimed that at least three lakh devotees will gather. Not more than fifty thousand assembled. Local populace boycotted the gathering to the extent that the lunch packets that were arranged for a lakh continued to be scattered in Ayodhya. But the Media under instructions from government and RSS leadership did everything possible to hide the total failure of the Hindutva brigade. Ayodhya meet failure has clearly shown that the common people are no more ready to buy and support this vicious communal agenda.
But it does not mean that the RSS-BJP combine will give up the campaign. The way it had annoyed the people during the four and half year rule of Modi combine, it has nothing else to go to the people to seek fresh mandate. It will persist with it and add new items to completely destroy the secular democratic fabric of our society and Constitution. During the recent campaign itself, the Constitution was repeatedly attacked to the extent that the day VHP meet was in Ayodhya, the Chief Justice of India in a meet at national capital warned that the type of attack is being mounted on the basic features and ethos of the secular democratic Constitution may lead to chaos and anarchy.
It is a timely warning but unfortunately, the secular democratic forces have not taken it up with the seriousness that it deserves. For RSS-BJP leadership, emotionalisation of politics or political emotionalism is the only way out for side tracking the real socio-economic and political issues. This week will fall the anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid. Along with the pillars of the historic mosque, the goons of the Sangh Parivar had also attempted to demolish the pillars of Constitution like rule of law, supremacy of judiciary and the Constitution itself.
It is time to reassert the basic features of our secular democratic Constitution. To start with, the demand should be raised to punish all those who conspired and were part of conspiracy to demolish the Babri Masjid. A few of the culprits are now portraying their crime as if it was some honour. The Apex Court should take suo motu note of such criminal pronouncements and see to it that the cases related to demolition of Babri Masjid are taken up on urgent basis.
Similarly, the Supreme Court should clearly reiterate its stand that as far as Babri Masjid demolition case is concerned, the only issue before it is the title deed. Court has just to decide the ownership of the land where Babri Masjid stood. All other claims are imaginary and courts have nothing to do with it.
The court should not only rebut the other claims that are being made but also take necessary legal measures to stop such nonsense. They should be treated as attempt, not only to divert the people’s attention from real issue but also as attack on basic feature of our Constitution.
Shameem Faizee is a freelance journalist.
Views are personal.