ASI signal puts BJP in top gear on temple

However, today, M. Venkaiah Naidu hammered home the issue. Being the BJP president, he can obviously position himself more strongly in favour of the temple. Therefore, speaking at a press conference, Naidu described the ASI findings as ‘‘conclusive evidence’’ and appealed to Muslims to start a ‘‘fresh dialogue to remove all hurdles in the construction of a Ram temple’’.

Naidu said the ASI investigation makes it clear that the Babri Masjid built by Mughal invaders was constructed on the site of a grand 10th-century temple. ‘‘There have been several other historical, literary, epigraphical and scientific evidences, all of which have established the fact that the Babri structure was built after demolishing a temple,’’ he said.

Claiming that the ‘‘ultimate evidence’’ sought by the critics of the temple in the form of ASI excavations was before everybody, Naidu remarked: ‘‘It is unfortunate that some of the contending parties in the court are now saying that the ASI report is doctored.’’ He recalled that ‘‘the court agreed to all the demands of contending parties during the investigations. When they alleged that the chief scientist of the ASI was not impartial to them, the court had him replaced. Thereafter, the work force used for digging was also picked up on the basis of religious ratio following insistence by these parties. Hence, their criticism of the ASI now is unjustifiable.’’

‘‘In the light of this conclusive evidence,’’ said Naidu, ‘‘this dispute should be put to rest and all of us should come together to rebuild the temple.’’

He said even if the court delivered a judgement, ‘‘it will make one party a winner and the other a loser’’. Therefore, ‘‘this is the moment for all communities to shed past differences and concentrate on the national mission to make India a proud, prosperous and secure nation. A united approach for the construction of the Ramjanmabhoomi temple will be an important symbolic step in that direction.’’

However, when asked if the ASI report will be an issue in the elections, Naidu replied in the negative. ‘‘ISI, not ASI, will be the issue,’’ he quipped. However, given the way the Sangh Parivar speaks in different voices, this has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Another key national functionary of the party informally admitted that the BJP would certainly go to town with the ASI report because this would bring focus back on the Ram temple.