It will be in January that the Supreme Court will decide when it wants to hear on the Ayodhya case, but we are already seeing a string of political rallies organised by right-wing groups pressurising the government to build the controversial Ram Mandir before the 2019 elections.
The New Leam Staff
The Ayodhya dispute marks a unique moment in the history of Indian secularism wherein a heated political and socio-religious debate was generated in the nation over the traditional significance of the site of Rama’s birth and the location of the pious centre of Islamic faith the Babri Masjid. Ayodhya, UP is regarded traditionally in Hinduism to be the birthplace of Lord Rama.
The controversy over whether the location of the Babri Masjid which was demolished in December 1992, was the same as that of the temple that is alleged to have been there prior to the existence of the mosque had captured widespread attention. This led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid, during a political rally in December 1992 leading to communal rights. In its verdict pronounced on 30th September, 2010, the Allahabad High Court had ordered that the land be divided into three parts – one third for the infant Rama represented by the Hindu Maha Sabha, one third going to the Sunni Waqf Board and the part which was left was to go the Hindu Nirmohi Akhara. The excavations made in the disputed site were shown as evidence to prove that a temple existed at the spot before the building of the mosque.
The controversial Ayodhya dispute has again captured the national imagination as the Right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parsihad and the BJP ally Shiv Sena have organised parallel rallies demanding the government to make the temple as soon as possible. Both these organisations have organised mob organising campaigns in Ayodhya. It is also the time to recall that the title suit in context of this case is still pending in the Supreme Court, but despite this the Prime Minster has made a promise for its steadfast construction.
Also, proposals to bypass the court order and begin the construction at the disputed site have been witnessed to emerge time and again. It has been reported that some members within the BJP and several Right-wing groups are demanding that the temple should be built before the 2019 General Elections. The title suit in this case is pending in the Supreme Court and it is to decide in January when it will hear the case.
