Tactical withdrawal

The demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, the BJP’s subsequent projected image as a law-breaking party and the changes in the election rules as regards religion made the party distance itself — at least tactically — from the VHP.

The party could succeed in diversifying — and expanding — its interests much beyond the temple, but always had the shadow of Palampur — and the VHP by extension — cast overit.

Now, nine years after Palampur and with the BJP heading a coalition at the Centre, the VHP seems to have been forced to carve out a new role for itself and abandon the temple issue — as long as the present government exists. A hard line by the VHP will mean a fatal blow for the Government with most of the BJP’s coalition partners — except the Shiv Sena — preferring a solution through the judiciary or negotiation.

But it may not be easy for the VHP to assume a new role so easily, as for the past 14 years the Ayodhya temple has been central to its existence. Yet, Ashok Singhal, senior RSS Pracharak and VHP working president, did try to carry out the Sangh directive to diversify its activities and keep the Ayodhya issue as vague as possible. Minimising the damage to the VHP was apparently his major concern in the changed political circumstances.

But the anger on the part of the pro-VHP sadhus, who were in the forefront of the movement for the temple, was visible. During a two-day pro-VHP SadhviSammelan in Haridwar, Singhal had to pacify an agitated Sadhu who wanted a categorical statement regarding time-frame for the temple. "We have not compromised on the issue. The preparation for carving stones and building pillars for the temple is in full swing," Singhal assured him.

Union Minister of State for Culture Uma Bharati went a step ahead. "A temple in Ayodhya will be the first thing that we will do when we come (to power) with an absolute majority," she said. Singhal added: "Maybe it should be a reality by the year 2000 as the ongoing construction work will take about two years and we can build the temple immediately."

Apparently, the sadhus did not find Singhal much convincing this time. The Sant Sammelan a day later had a very thin attendance, and a pale shadow of the past when the crowd was huge and the tone ferocious. This despite the fact that the meet was held during the Kumbh when sadhus from all over the country gathered in Haridwar.

Singhal devoted more of his speech tothe need to bring Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs together within the Hindu fold to combat the "ever growing Islamic and Christian fundamentalism" in India. He got resolutions approved in both the Sant and Sadhvi Sammelans seeking a law banning cow slaughter, scrapping of Tehri Dam on the Ganges and severe measures to check ISI activities.

On the other hand, the Sadhvi Sammelan declared to take up the issues of "gender bias" and even go aggressively against vulgar ads but the cry for the temple had been lost.

Luckily for the VHP, it could still retain its control over the Ram Janma Bhoomi Trust as all activities concerning the temple are being carried in its name in courts and outside. Trust Chairman Ram Chandra Paramhans also more or less followed the Singhal line on the temple as well as the government. "I will not allow anyone to shake this government. India’s Home Minister L.K. Advani came to all the way to Haridwar to wash the sadhus‘ feet — something that has never happened for centuries inIndia. I am sure the Prime Minister will get us the temple through some law," he said making clear that the government’s existence had now become the priority. He turned his anger against another "anti-Hindu" act. "If the Government tried to stall the free flow of Mother Ganges by building the dam, I will do to it what I did to the Babri Masjid," said Paramahans.

The Sammelan decided to write to the Government for such a law, but that was just around the time when Advani gave ample indication in Delhi during the BJP’s national executive meeting that BJP would not be dictated by its past agenda. Advani understood the limitation of a coalition government while the VHP appreciated it fully, bending wherever it was necessary.

The VHP during its two-day governing council meeting early this month in Faridabad had danced to the BJP tune and maintained silence on the issue of scrapping Article 370 and Uniform Civil Code as the government had just secured the support of the National Conference and the TDP MPs withtheir position on the two issues fairly well known.

Uma Bharati did give an impression at the Sadhvi Sammelan that the Government has been taking the initiative for the temple through dialogue, but sadhus and others sympathisers of the cause seem more or less convinced that it will not happen "at least during the present Government’s lifetime."