NEW DELHE: The latest statement of the Bharatiya Janata Party president Murli Joshi, that the Uttar Pradesh government will pass legislation to pave the way for construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, is an indication that the party is distancing itself from the National Integration Council resolution on the issue.

The BJP supported the resolution which committed it to honor the judicial verdict in the case. The change now in the tone of its leaders is clearly aimed at the by- elections. The party leaders says that at the NIC meet they had not made any commitment to abide by the court’s decision but had only said that they would “not Violate” the judgments of the Allahabad High Court. Many observers tend to views the BIPs interpretation of the NIC Resolution as a mere reshuffling of words. Irrespective of what others may think, a senior BJP leader feels that by avoiding the use of the expression “abide” the party is in a situation to act in the same manner in case of an unfavorable court decision as the Rajiv Gandhi government had done in the Shah Bano case by enacting a law to circumvent the Supreme Court’s ruling.

But it is not easy for the BJP government in UP to ensure the

Smooth passage of the legislation in the bicameral state legislature. The party has a majority to pass any legislation in the state legislative assembly but is in a minority in the legislative council where it is bound to be defeated, The legislative council can withhold its consent to any bill for three months after which it is sent back to the legislative assembly and becomes an act if the latter House approves it for the second time.

Party strategists felt that in the event of the other parties blocking the passage of the bill in the council, they would have proved their point that while they were sincere in honoring their commitment to facilitate construction of the temple, the other parties were creating hindrances. . Though some observers wonder how the BJP can go back on the NIC resolution after the specific assurances given by chief minister Kalyan Singh, party sources indicate that the assurances have been given for tactical reasons. They say that no chief minister can afford to say that he will act contrary to a court verdict. Ob- servers feel that a hostile approach by the UP chief minister at the NIC meeting would have pro- yoked the Center to take action against the state government. The party apparently wants to avoid it at the moment.

irrespective of what others may think, a senior BUP leader feels that by avoiding the use of the expression “abide” the party is in situation to act in the same manner in case of an unfavorable Court decision as the Rajiv Gandhi government had done in the Shah Bano case by enacting a aw to circumvent the Supreme Court’s ruling.

But it is not easy for the BJP government in UP to ensure the booth passage of the legislation

in the bicameral state legislature. The party has a majority to pass any legislation in the state legislative assembly but is in a minor- in the legislative council where it is bound to be defeated. The legislative council can withhold its consent to any bill for three months after which it is sent back to the legislative assembly and becomes an act if the later House approves it for the second time.

Party strategists felt that in the event of the other parties blocking the passage of the bill in the council; they would have proved their point that while they were sincere in honoring their commitment to facilitate construction of the temple, the other parties were creating hindrances.

Though some observers wonder how the BIP can go back on the NIC resolution after the specific assurances given by chief miter Kalyan Singh, party sources indicate that the assurances have been given for tactical reasons. They say that no chief minister can afford to say that he will act contrary 10 a court verdict. Observers feel that a hostile approach by the UP chief minister at the NIC meeting would have provoked the Center to take action against the state government. The party apparently wants to avoid it at the moment.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 15, 1991