Pressure growing on govt over Ram temple

In recent weeks, the RSS and Hindutva-oriented bodies have sought to build pressure on beginning the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya at an early date, rather than wait for the judicial processes to culminate.

They spoke in intemperate tones last week when the Supreme Court did not begin hearing petitions relating to the title suit in respect of the disputed land — where the Babri Masjid had one stood — on October 29, as anticipated by the Hindu Right, preferring to postpone the process to January next year.

But now the ruling party too has weighed in. It is to be seen to what extent this development polarises political equations, and whether the country will be brought to an undesirable pitch of uncertainty, as was the case in the weeks and months preceding the destruction of the mosque in Ayodhya in December 1992.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said on Saturday that the postponement of the Ayodhya hearings in the Supreme Court had made Hindus “anxious”. It is not clear what makes him say that. The RSS and the outfits linked to it are clearly political entities, whatever their claims. They do not immerse themselves in the religious realm. They can have no special means to divine the opinion of the adherents of a particular faith in the country.

Therefore, when Mr Madhav speaks of Hindus becoming “anxious”, he is referring to the BJP and RSS constituency becoming restless — since major elections are around the corner, first in the states that have historically been the RSS’ area of operation, and then the Lok Sabha poll early next year. If this restlessness is not seen to be addressed by the BJP government at the Centre, the RSS may worry about its influence diminishing.

Mr Madhav’s observation is without doubt a political mobilising tool, especially when he harks back to the past and says that delays in judicial processes had produced “consequences” in 1992, a reference to the destruction of the Babri Masjid. There is clearly an implied threat here.

It will be watched with not a little apprehension whether the Narendra Modi government readily concedes the demand of the RSS and kindred outfits to introduce legislation in the Winter Session of Parliament that would facilitate the building of a Ram temple, or is obliged to do so by the RSS, which acts as the BJP’s election machine.

In the main, the Modi government has largely failed on bread and butter issues. Raising the Ayodhya issue to fever pitch, the RSS-BJP may hope, will be insurance against governmental failures.

But this is an untested proposition yet. At any rate, Prime Minister Modi must be held to account on a constitutional basis and over his promise of “Sabka saath, sabka vikas”.