“I was not part of any conspiracy to bring down the Babri structure. But if I am punished I will accept it with pride. I do not shy away from my role in the Ram Janambhoomi movement.,’’ said Uma Bharati, reacting to the Rae Bareli special court’s ruling on Babri demolition case today.While the framing of charges is impending in the case, the Madhya Pradesh leadership has already expressed the view being cited by the Central leadership today that this is not an issue such as corruption calling for any drastic step by those indicted. In fact most BJP men were taken aback by Murli Manohar Joshi’s decision to resign because it does exert a degree of pressure on the others named today.The official stand remains that this is Joshi’s personal decision. But in the larger context, most senior BJP leaders express the view that the party does not stand to lose in any way from any issue which highlights Uma’s role in the Ram Janambhoomi movement. Just a few days back at RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav’s press conference here, it was clear that the Sangh and the BJP were hoping to reap the benefits from the ASI report on the Ram temple and the VHP’s agitation over the issue.While the BJP is keen to project the view that it will be fighting an anti-incumbency campaign focused on the lack of development in the state, the party has always sought a helping hand from the traditional Hindutva plank. This was also clear from the decision to field Uma as the ‘‘star’’ campaigner in the first place. And ever since, while the avowed aims have remained the same, the party has, starting with the Bhojshala issue, sought to gain whatever help it can obtain from such issues.Reacting to the developments today, Chief Minister Digvijay Singh said: ‘‘Today’s court decision will have no impact on the elections due in the state. It is for the people who are indicted by the court to act according to their conscience. It is for the people to decide what kind of elected representative they want.’’Senior Congress leaders, as is clear from the CM’s reaction, do not see much point in taking an overtly aggressive stand over the issue. Much of Digvijay’s ‘‘soft Hindutva’’ campaign has been directed at avoiding the anti-Hindu charge the BJP has been keen to tar the Congress with.
