New Delhi: even as the controversy over the Ram Janam Bhoomi, Babri Masjid looms like a juggernaut with portents of violence on the 1947 scale, the Hindu government is actively backing the bid to build the temple after destroying a mosque. It was a pooja with a difference. The object of worship was a brick with “Shri Ram” etched on it policemen carrying machineguns stood outside the temple in posh Khan Market where the pooja was being held. In the middle of the group sat L.K. Advan, the BJP President. It was beginning of the temple where Ram was bor, where the Babri Masjid now stand. The pooja ended and the procession began, as at 3,500,00 other places where Shila pooja is being performed. Mr Adyani left and the Shila wrapped in red cloth was taken around the colony. Mr B. L. Sharma ‘Prem’ Delhi leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad that is organizing the Shila pooja across the country, led the group. The procession stopped frequently. There were little speeches. Some donate money against coupons, from Rs 1.25 to Rs 10. The coupons carried a picture of the template. There were slogan: Saughandh Ram Ki Khate Han/Hum Mandir Wahin Bana yege” (We swear by Ram that is where we will build the temple), “Bachha Bachha Ram KaJanm abhoomi ke kaam ka” (Every child of Ram will work for the temple), Chahe pant anek hain Hindu hum sab ek hain” (The sects are many, but Hindus are one). Pooja and processions are expec ted to continue through October. And with the pooja, violence Clashes broke out last week in Rat lam, Mhow, Jaipur and other places, Many were killed or injured. Processions have now been stopped in Jaipur, but they will continue in a few hundred thousand other places. There is tension where there has been no violence, Oshi (sacrificing ourselves), the Naib Imam, who heads the Adam Sena, told the Jama Masjid congregation.
“Prepare for the naked dance of death.” He said the Imam had warned two years ago that this issue would snowball into something worse than 1947. “that is now coming True.” Anger is growing, and a determination not to yield. The Ganga can go back from Hardwar, but we will not go back from Ram janma bhoomi,” says Mr. Prem. On the other side, the Babri Masjid Action Committee is assembling Hifazati dastas (protection squads) to take on the temple builders. In Delhi, the Adam Sena Chief took over from the Imam to declare in his Friday Takrir: “This is going to be a game of blood and fire”. In the face of all this, Government orders are that pooja must go on. It has promised full protection to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. A Home Ministry Official said the police forces have asked at most to “persuade” the Parishad to keep the pooja lowkey. The police do not seem confident they can persuade either the Parishad or the Muslims effectively everywhere. The situation is frightening” said a senior police officer.
“It’s never been so bad. The Home Ministry is sorting out the Parishads programmers District officials are fixing sites for mahayagnas in every block. The mahayagna at about 6,500 yagnasthals lasts four days, This will be more than just pooja, say Mr. Nanji Bhagwat, all India covenor of Shi la pooja. There will be preacher and Pradarshin is (exhibitions). Posters and pictures will be put up and separate meeting held at yagna sthals with women, youth, sants and other groups. Govt Encouragement The Vishwas Hindu Parishad is being encouraged by the Government, the Naib Imam/said, Doesn’t the Government know what’s going to happen? We will not be fooled by announcements of Urdu as a second language UP.: In the days to come, he said “Is mulk ka khuda hi hafizhai” (God alone can save this country). Rehtoric on one side fuels freeze on the other says Mr. Prem: “Hum kisi ko chherenge nahin, koi chherega to chhorenge nahin”) (We will not start trouble; if someone else does, we will not spare him). In what sounded like a generous gesture, the Indian Muslim Youth Conference offered to step in and destroy the masjid as goodwill towards Hindus. But there are only about a dozen youths baking its leader, Mr Muktar Ab bas Naqyi. The police are not busy protecting them from fundamentalist Muslims. Both sides seem to have taken final positions. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad patro, Mr Vishnu Hari Dalmia, said” We have agreed to all conditions laid down by the Government. Now maintaining law and order is their responsibility.” The Government had no asked the Parishad to stop its program. “If they had, it would not have made a difference.” He said, “We do not want to destroy the masjid. We want only to shift it” with use of new technology. “We want only three mosques, not 3,000 as some Muslim leaders are saying” These, he said, are Ram Janmabhoomi, Krishna Janmab hoomi at Mathura, and Vishwa nath Mandir in Varanasi. “Once we have these we will wind up or agitation, he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 27, 1989
