RSS Sets the Tone for Public Discourse on Ayodhya

8/8/2019 RSS Sets the Tone for Public Discourse on Ayodhya

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RSS sets the tone for public discourse on AyodhyaBy Shyam Khosla

Arif Mohammed Khan, a noted thinker, author and former Union Minister, had an informal

interaction with 50+ intellectuals belonging to the Muslim community at Jaipur the day after the

Ayodhya verdict. His view that Allahabad High Court judgement was a product of judicialwisdom that could pave the way for the resolution of an extremely sensitive issue and, therefore,

must be accepted was broadly agreed to by the participants. They were greatly relieved that the

verdict, though not entirely acceptable, had averted a possible catastrophe. There was a universal

appreciation of RSS chief Shri Mohan Bhagwats "sober, restrained and healthy" response to the

High Court judgement. They were particularly appreciative of his observation that it was not a

matter of victory or defeat for any group and that nothing provocative should be done or said.

His earnest appeal to Muslims to forget the ill will and hard feelings of the past decades too was

well received.

As if to prove that this was not the view held by a select group of intellectuals in Jaipur alone,

Javeed Anand, general secretary, Muslims for Secular Democracy, noted a similar, albeit more

pronounced, response from aam Muslims in Mumbai. An activist friend of Javeed made a trip to

Bhindi Bazaar and other Muslim dominated localities to gather first hand knowledge of ground

realities. He was surprised that Muslims were distributing sweets not to celebrate victory but to

express their gratitude that the verdict was such that it didnt provoke a communal flare up.

Ordinary Muslims were keenly aware that there was no way they could have built a masjid on

the site even if the judgement had gone entirely in their favour. An interesting response from

some apolitical Muslims was that the community must approach the Supreme Court not to

challenge the High Court judgement but with the prayer that if the disputed site was indeed RamJanamabhoomi, the entire disputed land be handed over to Hindus to build the temple. Of course,

Javeed is strongly of the opinion that fear shouldnt be the basis for national reconciliation.

However, he is convinced that the best course of action for the Muslims would be to gift away to

Hindus the part of disputed land apportioned to them by the Court. This, he says would be in the

interest of the nation and the community. Interestingly, Mohammad Hashim Ansari, one of the

original plantiffs in the case, has publicly stated that Hindus should now be allowed to build a

temple at the site they believe to be Ram Janmabhoomi.

Contrast these sober and healthy sentiments of ordinary Muslims, with the inflammatory

statements made by the likes of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan and SyedShahabuddin. They are greatly disappointed with the national reconciliation narrative obviously

because their political survival is dependent on communal tensions and conflicts. They are

making provocative statement in the hope to win back sections of Muslim that had recently

drifted towards the Congress in Hindi-speaking states. They are the worst type of communalists

and Hindu-baiters and, along with the Congress and the Communists, guilty of causing Hindu-

Muslim divide and communal tensions. Syed Ahmed Bhukari, the notorious rabble rouser, has


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virtually accused the High Court for "betraying the Muslims" and predicted that the Supreme

Court wont give justice to the community and would endorse the Allahabad High Court

judgement. He has faith neither in judiciary nor in the political class and is dead set against a

negotiated settlement. What is he aiming at? Bloody street battles to decide the issue!!!

Communists and their fanatic fellow travellers masquerading as historians and scholars are on

the same page as the fanatic Muslims. CPM has rejected the verdict and wants Muslims to

challenge it in the Supreme Court. "Eminent historians" that distorted history to invent the

Muslim claim on Janmabhoomi have questioned the verdict and described it yet another blow to

the "secular fabric of the country and reputation of the judiciary". The national mood of

reconciliation and social harmony has thrown them into confusion. They are more comfortable in

situations of chaos and violence. The sooner they and their bogus ideology are thrown into the

dustbin of history, the better it would be for the nation.

The Congress party is in a serious dilemma. It finds itself between the devil and the deep sea. Ithas been rattled by communal outbursts from fanatic Muslim leaders and pseudo-secularists. Its

nervousness is reflected in its revisiting, again and again, its stand on the verdict. It has travelled

a long distance from "welcoming the verdict", to "wait for the final word from the Supreme

Court". The party perceives the verdict as a serious threat to its attempt to win back Muslims that

had drifted to regional outfits in 1980s and 1990s. It is apprehensive that if the party stuck to its

initial response of respecting the verdict, fanatical Muslim and pseudo-secular outfits would

provoke anti-Congress sentiments among Muslims pushing them to the waiting arms of regional

parties. Its think tanks are worried that if it were to overplay its traditional obsession with

minority politics, its arch rival BJP would gain tremendously because of the Hindu backlash. The

disquiet in the ruling party is caused by its perception that recent developments have boosted themoral of the principal opposition party since the verdict is essentially a vindication of the

Ayodhya movement and BJPs stand on Ram Janmabhoomi as articulated by its National

Executive in what is known as Palampur resolution.

Moderate Muslim voices that had all along been ignored by "secularists", particularly the

Congress, need to be heard.

RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwats statesman like statement on the verdict gave a

tremendous boost to his image and status in public life. Even "secularists", among politicians and

media, are all praise for his conciliatory remarks and sober approach. His timely observations set

the tone for public discourse on the sensitive issue. Barring a few exceptions, the initial response

from religious, cultural, social and political outfits was within the parameters set out by the RSS

chief. It is time to move forward and start a dialogue for a negotiated settlement. The 90-year old

Ansari has already started the process by requesting Mahant Gyandas to act as a mediator. The

later has contacted Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas leader Ramvilas Das Vedanti who in turn is in touch


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with VHP supremo Shri Ashok Singhal, the undisputed leader of the temple movement.

While these initiatives are welcome, the Government of India must rise to the occasion to

perform its sacred duty to start the process of reconciliation facilitate early construction of a

magnificent Ram temple at Janmabhoomi. That will usher in an era of communal amity and

peace in the country.

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RSS Sets the Tone for Public Discourse on Ayodhya