What is it about election-speak that destroys rational argument and undermines reasoned positions? If Rahul Gandhi’s reference to the Babri Masjid demolition at Deoband on Monday was politically unprofitable, the BJP’s official response to it was far worse. The BJP claims that Rahul Gandhi’s words “hurt Hindu sentiments”? What could it have possibly meant? If the implication is that the demolition of the masjid had the unconditional and uniform support of the Hindus of this country, nothing could be farther from the truth. The ordinary Hindu was saddened by the assault.The BJP’s attempt to shore up its Hindutva credentials before the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly elections must not be done at the cost of some self-evident truths that this country has long valued. We have visited the theme before, but it bears repetition that the Babri Masjid demolition of December 6, 1992, was one of the most unfortunate episodes in recent history. Those who perpetrated it cannot be termed as political cadres who got carried away by the excitement of the moment, but as vandals who deserved, yet regretfully escaped, exemplary punishment. Although some within the larger Sangh Parivar, entirely in keeping with their extreme politics, actually expressed pride in the egregious attack, the party’s senior leaders have — both within the country and outside it — regretted the demolition, because they said they recognised it as an affront to the Constitution and a contravention of the Indian Penal Code. This is not the first time that the BJP has been tempted to backtrack on such a well-stated position as elections loom on the horizon. It will not be the last. But let it be set down for the record that every time the party attempts to run with the hares and hunt with the hounds on the issue, it ends up with its own credibility as a national party considerably diminished.
