Image Courtesy: nationalheraldindia.com
Bolstered by the Ayodhya verdict, the Hindu Mahasabha, a right-win organization has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting them to dismiss the criminal cases registered against the karsevaks who were part of the Babri Masjid demolition act.
Those against whom the cases were filed include the names of 47 BJP leaders among hundreds of others. Among those accused in the case are senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Uma Bharti, MurliManohar Joshi, etc. A final decision in the case is expected by April 2020.
The letter has been written by Swami Chakrapani, president of the Mahasabha, who was also a party in the Ayodhya land dispute case.
In addition to the request of the criminal cases being withdrawn, the Mahasabha has also demanded for ‘martyr’ status for those karsevaks who died in Ayodhya in 1992 and that the BJP leaders use the term ‘Dharmik Sainani’ (religious fighters) to address them.
Apart from this, they Mahasabha has asked for financial assistance and government jobs for the families of deceased karsevaks and wants a plaque with their names to be put up.
A report by the Deccan Herald says that according to the Liberhan Commission’s findings, nearly 5,000 karsevaks pulled down the domes of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. Before that, on October 30, 1990, karsevaks were fired upon during an attempt to do karseva in Ayodhya, near the disputed site, killing many ensuing a nationwide protest.
The demand of the Hindu Mahasabha comes in just 3 days after the Supreme Court brought to a closure, albeit in a flawed manner, one of the most long running legal battles in the country – the Ayodhya land dispute verdict. It ruled in the favour of Ram Lalla, giving the Hindu side exclusive ownership rights to the disputed land of 2.77 acres in Ayodhya.
Meanwhile, top BJP’s senior brass, along with its allies, the Rashtriya Swayam sevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is distancing itself from the demand of temples in Kashi and Mathura.
In Kashi, Gyanvapi mosque shares a boundary wall with the Kashi Vishwanath temple and in Mathura, the ShahiIdgah mosque stands beside the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple premises.
Replying to a query on whether the RSS would now take the movement to Kashi and Mathura, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said, “The Sangh doesn’t get involved in any movement (andolan). We work towards character building.”
Believing these statements is a naïve move. After the verdict, at a press conference, VHP working President Alok Kumar said that Ayodhya was not the end of the story. He said, “About Kashi and Mathura, I must make it clear that Supreme Court judgement is not the end of the story, it is the beginning.” RSS is an ally of the VHP which played a pivotal role in the battle along with Bajrang Dal. They’re all part of the Sangh parivar. One’s words echo another’s.
To take their statements at face value would be gravely misunderstanding that these are just pacifying measures full of hypocrisy and must not be trusted.
Related:
Ayodhya Verdict: RSS’ Moderation Smacks of Hypocrisy
Ayodhya Dispute Case: Does the tortuous journey end now?
Ayodhya still awaits justice