Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has, as we are seeing time and again, gone back on its commitment to abide by the court verdict on Ayodhya. Its recent rhetoric at Ranchi and its resolution at its Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal at Hardwar, which stated that it will 8216;8216;not abide by its the court8217;s verdict if it goes against our dharmshastras8217;8217; bear witness to that. The Ayodhya issue threatens to invade the political space once again as a consequence. The recent anointment of Ayodhya hardliner Vinay Katiyar as the BJP chief of the state only underlines this distinct possibility. Therefore, even though the results of consecutive elections in Uttar Pradesh have categorically proved that the temple issue is not longer vested with the emotional appeal it had once enjoyed among the state8217;s voters, it would be extremely naive, politically, to wish it away.
It is in that context that Mayawati8217;s public reiteration, at Sunday8217;s public rally in Delhi, that she would abide by the court verdict if the Ayodhya dispute is not resolved through other means, is welcome. Her stand is in sync with the current position of the Vajpayee government too. However, the BJP is clearly searching for a political plank to steer it to power in the next general election 8212; 2004 not such a long way off 8212; and it may be seduced yet again to embrace the mandir cause, especially given the pressures being exercised on it by its affiliates like the VHP. Therefore, Mayawati8217;s pre-emptive strike on the issue is a politically wise move since it unequivocally sets down her government8217;s stance on this controversy during its five-year tenure.
