Opinion Tested by the verdict

With various Muslim bodies repeatedly emphasising that the court verdict will be respected by them,it would be too complacent to take a post-verdict calm for granted. Numerous hotheads and political parties on both ends of the communal spectrum are slowly yet surely emerging from the shadows as conspiracy theories abound.

The question of whether there was a structure below the disputed mosque is just one that the verdict will perhaps elaborate — or maybe the answers will throw up another set of vexed questions. The optimists are suggesting that this issue has lost its potency after two decades and a younger India is far too engrossed in personal economic empowerment.

But they forget that with 37 per cent of Indians being underfed and enough players seeking an opportunity to reap some political dividend,the dynamics of this issue can unravel very quickly. For the last two years the Mandalites have been in search of an emotive issue to refurbish their affinity to the Muslims.

Not long ago,after a wait of “only” 17 years,the Liberhan Commission’s report had blamed the RSS for running a “parallel government” that supervised meticulously all details in the events leading to the demolition of the Babri Masjid. With its offshoots,the Bajrang Dal,the VHP and so on,it collectively created an “immense and awesome entity with a shrewd brain,a wide encompassing sweep and the crushing strength of a mob.” A sympathetic insider like Kalyan Singh of the BJP facilitated the demolition. Having cohabited thrice earlier with the BJP,the BSP will be equally under the scanner of the secular forces. A young political science graduate from the Aligarh Muslim University explained it like this: “The only way that Mayawati can come back to power in 2012 is with a resurgent BJP support.” A verdict which comes after 18 years of the demolition and could run into thousands of pages could be the next fulcrum for enhanced inter-faith unity or disunity.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said this week that the issue is about the “identity of the nation”. He added: “There is a lot of mistrust between people on various issues including the Ram temple issue. I believe that this issue will help in bringing integration to the country… If today the Muslims say that let a Ram Mandir be built at the site,no one will be able to say in India that Indian Muslims are ‘videsh parast’ (inclined towards outsiders).”

So the die is finally cast. Indian Muslims do not need a certificate of patriotism from the RSS or the VHP or the Bajrang Dal. For Indian citizens the Constitution and its safeguards are the ultimate repository of nationhood. The real issues of poverty,Maoist violence and inequitable growth cannot be solved by building a place of worship. Having respect for each other and keeping faith in the tricolour are good places to start the quest for patriotism.

The writer is chairman of the editorial board at the Kanpur-based Urdu newspaper ‘Daily Siyasat Jadid’