LUCKNOW: The epic Ramayana has quite a few versions but this is a new script. In Uttar Pradesh it’s now Ram versus Hanuman as political opponents of the pro-Ram BJP government have joined hands under the banner of the wind god to topple the “anti-Hanuman” government.

“The momentum comes from last week’s demolition program in Ayodhya by the BJP government. The Sankat Mochan temple with the presiding deity of Hanuman was damaged and uprooted. Suddenly the opposition saw light. The monkey god has become their guiding beacon and the state government is now being accused of “anti-Hanuman” activities.

It’s an impressive banner. The Samajwadi Janata Dal (SJD) party has elaborate plans to stage a march against the “state-sponsored” insults to Lord Hanuman The Congress has submitted a memorandum to the governor on the subject. The Janata Dat (A) is a step ahead seeking dismissal of the Kalyan Singh government and asking for Presidents rule. The leader of the opposition Mr Reot Aman Singh has called for a crusade against the “ant-people anti god” government.

Says the former chief minister and SIDs Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav “No Hindu in his right sense can hurt Hanuman o please Ram.” And he goes into graphic details to explain how the deitys leg was broken and heartlessly dumped on a tractor for over 48 hours in course of the demolition.

The Ram-Hanuman controversy actually began within the state assembly walls where for the last two days BJP members and minister had worked hard to stall a discussion on the demolition of Hindu shrines. They had almost succeeded even as 74 opposition MLAs were suspended for three sittings of the House. But Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav checkmated the ruling party.

Rustic he may be but on that day Me Yadav displayed his street smart skills at using assembly procedures to put his point across. In the end he left the treasury benches panting for breath. “They have broken the leg of Hanuman the wailed. When the Speaker “Me. Kesari Nath Tripathi pointed out that this had nothing to do with their solution bring discussed Mr Yadav kept quiet. He camouflaged his aggression with humility.

“The resolution being discussed then was for the revocation of the suspension. The opposition was on the defensive urging the chair and the treasury benches to support their resolution so that the Ayodhya issue and the state budget could be discussed by a full House.

At this crucial juncture Mr. Yadav went about telling the speaker that the ruling BJP MLAS were as much responsible for the chaos in the House as Opposition members “They have hurt our sentiments… they have broken the abode of Mata Sumitra” he lamented.

And was it effective Mr. Yadav broke through the steel frame of BIPs brute majority to convey that the so-called defenders of Hindutva were committing sacrilege. They were tearing apart the idol of Lord Hanuman and breaking the home of Sumitra Mata the mother of Lasman while pretending 10 build a shrine for Lord Ram.

As soon as Mr. Yadav got out of the assembly hall he asked his friends and followers to prepare for a march to Ayodhya “to teach a lesson to the BJP government.” He was informed; “This power hungry pseudo-religious government needs to be beaten at its own game” he thundered even as his right-hand man Mr. Beni Prasad Verma was quick to issue a written directive to all party legislators to take part in the Ayodhya march.

The state government is likely to ban Mr. Yadavs march to Ayodhya on the pretext that this may disturb peace in the area. But the positions have changed. The BJP is on the driver’s seat this time while Mr.Yadav is on the receiving end. The broken leg of the statue has now been repaired at the insistence of the powers that be and plans are afoot to install it at the Choubuuzi temple in Ayodhya and the modem day Ramayan continues

Article extracted from this publication >> April 10, 1992