Author: Our Political Bureau
Publication: The Business Standard
Date: February 21, 2003
URL: http://www.business-standard.com/archives/2003/feb/50210203.054.asp
Introduction: Prime Minister's remarks
come two days before the VHP's Dharam Sansad
Although neither the Dharam Sansad
on February 22, nor the Supreme Court hearing on Ayodhya tomorrow is likely
to take the Ram temple issue forward, Prime Minister Atal Bihari kept the
political mood alive.
He said in Mandi (Himachal Pradesh)
today: "We want to build the Ram temple at Ayodhya. We are confident that
there is enough historical evidence to prove a temple existed there. However,
if not, then let the courts decide and we will abide by it."
Adding a sting to the tail, the
Prime Minister observed: "But let the Congress say whether it will accept
the verdict if the existence of the Ram temple is proved".
Vajpayee was addressing his first
meeting in the run-up to the election campaign in Himachal Pradesh.
It is significant that he made these
remarks a day before the Supreme Court is to hear a petition on whether
religious rites should be allowed in the undisputed part of the Ram Janmabhumi
complex, a day before a meeting of the Margdarshak Mandal and two days
before the Dharam Sansad.
It is another matter that the court
is likely to say nothing on the issue because the last order said the matter
must go before a larger Bench and it is listed before a three- judge Bench.
At the same time, sources in the
Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) said the meeting of Hindu religious leaders
tomorrow and on Saturday is likely to do nothing beyond setting a new date
for temple construction to keep the temple issue alive till the elections.
Religious leaders are likely to
tell the government that whether the court permits construction or not,
at least the undisputed portion of the Ram Janmabhumi complex should be
acquired by the government through legislation and handed over to the Vishva
Hindu Parishad.
In the light of reports that there
was continued tension between the Sangh parivar and the BJP, Vajpayee's
speech was meant as much for the Hindus of Himachal as it was addressed
to the Dharam Sansad.
That there was complete identity
of views between the VHP and the BJP also came out clearly from the Prime
minister's statements and from reports filtering out from the Sangh about
the strategy the Dharam Sansad would adopt.
Although the Kanchi Shankaracharya
has been acting as a "mediator" between the VHP and the government on the
Ayodhya issue, the VHP views the Kanchi Shankaracharya's position as a
sellout of the Hindu cause and would much rather back leaders like Acharya
Dharmendra, an outspoken and blunt critic of the BJP government.
The recent "taming" of VHP general
secretary Praveen Togadia by Murli Manohar Joshi reportedly at the instance
of the Prime Minister has not gone down well in the VHP, which feels betrayed
by the BJP.
"The temple cause is our cause.
Maybe when Togadia spoke about Iraq, he spoke out of turn. But he is doing
his job. When the final fruit of Togadia's efforts are going to be reaped
by the BJP, what right do they have to criticise Togadia's efforts?" a
VHP activist said.
However, in Himachal, Vajpayee made
common cause with the temple-construction brigade. He made it clear that
a smear campaign about his beef-eating actually strengthened his commitment
to Hinduism.
"I would die rather than eat beef.
Although cow slaughter in most parts of the country is banned, we will
enact legislation to fill the loophole," he said.
Although there was mention of development
work done by the BJP government in Himachal, the Prime Minister did not
forget to praise Shanta Kumar, who is at loggerheads with Chief Minister
P K Dhumal.
Vajpayee also noted the existence
of rebels in the election by observing, "How can those who cannot be loyal
to their party be loyal to the country?"