Political Implications of the Demolition of the Babri Mosque

Political Implications of the Demolition of the Babri Mosque

by the Association of Indian Progressive Study Groups (AIPSG), New York, 13 December 1992

Excerpted text:

The destruction of the Babri Mosque on 6 December 1992 was not only a calculated affront to the honor and sentiments of all Indians but a deliberate attempt to prepare the ground for even greater tragedies.

Over one thousand people have been killed in incidents of violence throughout India. There has been a tendency to label these incidents as “Hindu-Muslim riots,” but as is typical in most instances of communal violence, there is mounting evidence that many people killed have actually been the victims of police gunfire. Why has such violence been used against innocent people? One wonders what stopped the government and the security forces from maintaining the peace and preventing the demolition of the mosque as the terrible events of 6 December were unfolding. Why has such tolerance been shown toward the attackers in Ayodhya, who were permitted, for over a day an a half, to demolish the mosque, build the “temple foundation,” and leave the city in special buses and trains without being apprehended, even after the state had been under direct president’s rule for more than twenty-four hours? It is hard to understand how, despite such questions, the prime minister of India, P. V. Nar asimha Rao, could claim at a recent news conference that he did not feel in any way responsible for what took place.

The Complicity of the Central Government

It should never be forgotten that it was a Congress (I) government that presided over the rekindling of the dispute in 1986 when the mosque was reopened. Successive central governments and the present Congress (I) government in particular deliberately presented the Ayodhya issue as a dispute between some Hindu and Muslim leaders and experts, with the government trying to “strike a deal” between the “two sides.” This was one of the main ways this diversionary issue was willfully dragged out and communalized.

Official culpability must also be situated in another, more compelling context. It is unfortunate that the Indian state and its successive governments have, in various acts of commission and omission, been one of the main factors in the communalization of life in recent years. The Meerut (1987), as well as Nellie (1983), Delhi (1984), and Bhadalpur (1989) massacres are just some of the examples that have been well documented. What needs emphasis is that nobody has been brought to justice, especially not the police and the paramilitary who were involved.

With the tone being set from the highest levels of society, it is hard to avoid reaching the conclusion that the Indian police and the paramilitary’s well-known communal animus is, if not officially sanctioned, certainly tolerated in a broad way. If no one from the Uttar Pradesh police and the Provincial Armed Con stabulary (PAC) was charged with the Malliana and Hashimpura killings in 1987, despite overwhelming evidence of their involvement is it surprising that the same security forces were seen egging on the destruction of the Babri Mosque? Why would the government not want to punish those involved in instances of communal violence?

The Role of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Leaders

For its part, the leadership of the BJP must be held fully accountable for the consequences of its irresponsible and malevolent politics. Now that a 450-year-old place of worship has been so senselessly demolished, all Indians and particularly the supporters of this party should ask themselves what problem this has solved for the people? For a time longer than since the BJP leaders have been pushing their divisive and diversionary agenda, the people of India have been struggling to establish a rule where their fundamental rights could be enshrined and realized. It is shameful that forty-five years after independence so many of our countrywomen and men are condemned to hover on the brink of utter destitution, and it is even more shameful that rather than making this the issue, the leaders of the BJP tried to divert the people’s attention toward a non-issue. Besides sharing responsibility for countless lives lost in various incidents of violence, the leadership of the BJP must surely stand guilty of helping to ensure that the problems of our people remain unsolved.

On the Banning of the Rashtriya Swayansevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and Other Organizations

The Indian government has announced the arrest of Advani, Joshi, and various others for sedition and for inciting communal disharmony. Aside from the irony that such an indictment is being made by a man who was the home minister during the Delhi massacres of November 1984 and whose present cabinet contains at least one individual well-known to be directly involved in those massacres, it is pertinent to ask: is this the first time that Advani and associates have incited communal disturbances? It is well known, for example, that his rath yatra (procession) of 1990 was directly linked to the communal carnage that took place at various cities along his route. If the government has today chosen to charge him with some crimes, surely this could have been done before, especially since Advani and his supporters had long advertised their intention of tearing down the mosque. Why was this not done?

On 9 December the government of India announced its decision to ban the RSS (a paramilitary nonparty Hindu organization)…

Source: Questia

Atul Behari Vajpaie’s involvment and provocation in demolition of Babri Masjid

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

ALSO SEE:

- Babri Masjid (Babri Mosque) Demolition – DO NOT FORGET

- Startling Revelations about the Demolition of the Babri Mosque

POSSIBLY RELATED POSTS:

1. Demolition of Babri Masjid (Babari Mosque) – DO NOT FORGET
2. Startling revelations about the demolition of the Babri mosque
3. Another Mosque Burnt in France
4. A Profile to Remember – BBC Profile: BAL THACKERAY
5. Lal Masjid Massacre | Surrender or Die | Pakistan’s dictator threatens massacre at Islamabad mosque
6. Bhutto’s Colleague, Dr. Mubashir Hasan: Political Parties Destroying Pakistan
7. BAL THACKERAY – Complete Profile
8. A Blind Eye to Bigotry – Gujrat Genocides
9. Agent Mehsud On A Mission To Prove His Worth
10. Indian Christians vs. Pakistani Christians

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 27th, 2008 at 09:32 and is filed under Extreme Issues, Hindu Fascism, India, Politics, Religious, Terrorism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.