Babri Masjid is back, again

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Babri Masjid is still haunting the Indian politics. Though its structure was demolished on December 6, 1992, its ghost is refusing to die ever after 17 years.

From the origination of this controversy in December 1949 to the leakage of Liberhan Commission report today, the Babri Masjid issue must have been debated in the Parliament for several times, but without any results. Strategically, the politicians are just discussing the problem and not the solution.

The observations of Liberhan Commission were not surprising and new. It took nearly 17 years and 48-extensions for Justice Liberhan to understand that the BJP leaders were "pseudo-moderates". It took over a decade-and-a-half for the commission to establish that LK Advani and Vajpayee were responsible for the demolition. He appears to have re-told an already known story using a different terminology.

The leaked report also talks of inaction by the police to prevent the demolition of Babri Masjid. Again, this is neither a new fact nor a new phenomenon. Except for a few instances, police was always inactive in this case. This was observed for the first time in 1949 itself when the problem originated.

The Faizabad District Magistrate sent a radio message on 23rd December 1949 to the Chief Minister Govind Ballabh Pant and other senior officials, stating that, "A few Hindus entered Babri Masjid at night when the Masjid was deserted and installed a deity there. Police picket of 15 persons was on duty at night but did not apparently act."

The politicians including the stalwarts like Pandit Nehru dragged this controversy. They always talked of an 'amicable' and 'peaceful' solution for this problem, but they themselves refrained from suggesting a solution then itself or even attempted to find one till they were alive. However, Vallabhbhai Patel wanted this issue to be resolved at the earliest. He wrote a letter to the chief minister G.B.Pant on 9th January 1950 saying, "Any unilateral action based on an attitude of aggression or coercion cannot be countenanced. I am therefore quite convinced that the matter should not be made such a live issue and that the present inopportune controversies should be resolved by peaceful methods and accomplished facts should not be allowed to stand in the way of amicable settlement."

The controversy took a new turn on 1st February 1986 when the Faizabad District Judge ordered the unlocking the gate of the inner courtyard of the Babri Masjid to allow free access by the Hindu community to the mosque to perform puja. Rajiv Gandhi apparently tried to take credit for the same and therefore, he even launched his campaign for the 1989 general elections from Ayodhya with a promise of bringing Ram Rajya.

All political parties benefited from the Babri Masjid issue. While the "culprits" of Babri Masjid demolition Vajpayee and Advani (as per the leaked report), became Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India, their rivals like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh became permanent heroes for the Muslim community. After demolition, though Congress suffered a set-back by losing the Muslim vote bank, it recovered after a decade and the same Muslim leaders who issued 'fatwas' against voting for Congress in 1994 and 1996 elections, are now supporting the party. Despite all these political changes, the Babri Masjid controversy remained where it was in 1949. Several cases are going on in different courts with both Hindus and Muslims maintaining their stance.

But do we have a solution for Babri Masjid dispute? Will Hindus agree for re-construction of mosque at the same site? Will Muslims agree for the construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site? Can we construct both temple and a mosque at the same site? The answer is no for all these questions. Neither Muslim nor Hindus will agree for any of these solutions. But can both sides give commitment that they will abide by the order of the court in this case. For time being, they may agree. Therefore, for now, this matter should be left for the courts to decide. But there is no guarantee that they won't react if the judgment goes against them.

The political drama that began today due to the leakage of report too may not last long. If Liberhan Commission has really found Vajpayee and Advani guilty of Babri Masjid demolition, then will Congress Government arrest these leaders? It is for sure that no such action would be taken. Even if any serious action is taken, then it will only benefit the BJP and its leaders. Therefore, the Congress too will try to downplay the entire report.

Now, instead of discussing the report and its findings, the Parliament should discuss a solution for Babri Masjid issue. For now, the problem looks communally sensitive, but the Parliament should try to prove that India, as a democracy, has matured enough to solve problems of any nature. If this can't be done, then they there is no guarantee that many more issues like Babri Masjid will continue to the haunt the Indian politics.