NEW DELHI: While the Union Government has preferred to maintain a conspicuous silence on the talks that took place between the Prime Minister, P.V.Narasimha Rao, and the sadhus on the Ayodhya issue, the Sangh parivar has decided to give a detailed account of promises made by Rao, both verbally as well as written, to construct the proposed Ram temple at the site of the now demolished Babri Masjid.
The serious allegations against the prime minister have been leveled in the “white paper” prepared by the Sangh parivar, giving its own version of the events leading to the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6. In sharp contrast to the Union government’s refusal to make public the contents of the parleys that the prime minister had with the VH.P.led sadhus in July and during the buildup to December incident, significant part of the document prepared by them is devote to the talks between the two sides.
Mean to be a rejoinder to the Center’s charge of betrayal and perfidy against the RSSBJPVHP combine, the Sangh parivar’s ‘white paper’ alleges that the prime minister had in the course of his talks with the sadhus conceded in principle the demand for the construction of the Ram temple at the shilanayas site.
The document, running into around 350 pages refers, in particular, to the letters written by the prime minister to both Sant Vamdeo and Swami Vishweshwar Tirth of Udipi, also known as Pejawar Swami.
Similar promises to the sadhus were made by Rao’s cabinet colleagues, notably the then defence minister, Sharad Pawar, alleges the ‘white paper.” It also claims that the former Prime Minister, V.P.Singh, had also given identical assurances to the sadhus when in office.
The final draft, however, has put up a brave front. While the failure of the Kalyan Singh government is attributed to the pent-up feelings of the Hindus, the criticism of indiscipline has been sought to be countered by pointing to the “restraint” observed by the BJP workers on February 25 at the Capital’s proposed rally inspire of the “gravest possible provocations from the police.”
Article extracted from this publication >> April 9, 1993
