If the VHP’s shilanyas in 1989 marked the start of the autumn of the Congress, the Ram Mandir Bhumi Poojan ceremony stamps the emergence of the new politics brought in by the BJP.
From November 9, 1989, when the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) conducted a shilanyas here, to Wednesday, August 5, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay a 22.6 kg silver brick to start the development of the Ram temple, Ayodhya has witnessed a medley of historical, cultural, religious and political events.
If the Shilanyas marked the start of the autumn of the Congress, then India’s leading organization. The Ram Mandir Bhumi Poojan ceremony signifies the emergence of the new politics brought in by the BJP.
VHP’s Shilanyas
Exactly three decades before, on the identical day the Supreme Court approved the development of the Ram Mandir at the disputed site, on November 9, 1989, the VHP had put the primary stone for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
At a time when then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who had stormed to power with a brute majority within the Lok Sabha, was on a slippery wicket – because of his mishandling of country. Therefore the Kashmir situation additionally because of the intensifying attack against him. By the Opposition on the Bofors scandal – the VHP was charged at the bottom over the reason behind Ram Mandir.
Ever since it had announced a foundation laying ceremony at Ayodhya. Hindus from across the planet started sending it financial assistance for the cause. The VHP was ready, but the Lucknow bench of Allahabad state supreme court ordered a standing quo.
Determined to defy the writ, VHP collected funds and bricks with Shree Ram written on them, organized kar sevaks, and held prayers to travel ahead with the Shilanyas.
Rajiv Gandhi’s government, apparently hoping to make the most on Hindu sentiments to answer the intensifying political agitation and public anger against his government decided to let the VHP conduct the ceremony. Then-Home Minister Buta Singh, who met VHP leader Ashok Singhal, granted him permission to travel ahead.
Later, because the fervor and communal tension escalated, the Centre and also the state governments tried to induce the VHP leaders to agree on conducting the Shilanyas outside the disputed site.
But on November 9, a congregation of VHP leaders, including Sadhus, dug a 7x7x7 ft pit to get the singhdwar (main entrance) of the sanctum sanctorium, clearly on the disputed land, defying the agreement they’d made with the authorities
L K Advani’s Rath Yatra
The most important milestone within the BJP’s political journey. The BJP had campaigned heavily over the Ram Temple on the disputed site issue sooner than the 1989 elections, during which it won 89 seats, a large leap from its tally of two within the previous Lok Sabha polls.
Sensing the political opportunity the Ram Temple could create – Lord Ram is that the most revered and a uniting figure for Hindus, who follow different rituals and practices across the country – Advani, in September 1990, decided to travel for a yatra to coach people about the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which had thus far been propagated by the VHP mainly.
Advani’s Toyota-turned-chariot procession from Somnath, Gujarat, to Ayodhya via central India stirred Hindu sentiments and mobilized the community behind him. Advani almost attained the image of a saint and a savior. It led to the events in December 1992.
Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, 1992
Frenzied karsevaks, inspired by the calls of the BJP and VHP leaders, clambered up the domes of the 16th century Babri Masjid. And pulled it down, again breaking the assurances given to the Centre and also the state governments. The communal violence this sparked across the country left almost 2,000 people dead.
President’s Rule was imposed in several states, dismissing the BJP governments in the state, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh. But it embarked the BJP on a wider political path that led to its emergence because the most prominent and widespread organization within the country, replacing the decades-long dominance of the Congress.
Liberhan Commission
The Justice M S Liberhan Commission of inquiry was appointed within a fortnight of the demolition and was asked to submit a report within three months. The Commission availed 48 extensions and eventually submitted its 10,000-page report on January 30, 2009
The legal battle is back in April 2002
The matter was back at the courts and one more legal battle began. A three-judge bench of the Allahabad court was hearing to see the ownership of the disputed land. The HC ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to excavate the positioning and determine if it absolutely was a mandir earlier.
In 2003, ASI found evidence of the presence of a temple under the mosque. This re-energized the VHP, and its chief Ashok Singhal asked the then-BJP government to form legislation handy over the location to the Hindus so the development of the temple could begin.
In September 2010, the court, which took the ASI’s findings together with other evidence before it into consideration, ruled that the disputed land should be divided into three parts — a 3rd should attend Ram Lalla Virajman, represented by the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha; one-third to the Sunni Waqf Board; and also the remaining to the Nirmohi Akhara.
In December, the parties moved the Supreme Court. Neither the VHP-BJP nor the Muslims were pleased with the order. In May 2011, the apex court stayed the state supreme court order.
Meanwhile, the VHP continued its campaign with vigor. But the BJP’s coming to power and its silence over the temple further because the RSS leadership’s advice to not escalate pressure over the Ram Temple forced them to lie low.
Towards the tip of 2018, the VHP again raised its pitch, with many thousands of Hindu seers and followers assembling in Ayodhya. It together with Shiv Sena organized Dharma Sabhas in numerous parts of the country and pressed the govt to issue an ordinance for the development of the temple. They were later backed by even the RSS leaders. BJP’s senior leaders had to carry several rounds of discussions with the RSS’ top leadership. They convince them that the govt had to attend for the Supreme Court verdict.
On November 9, 2019
A five-judge Supreme Court bench led by then judge of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi ruled in favor of Ram Lalla and said the complete disputed land adjoin 2.7 acres are going to be handed over to a trust formed by the govt. Which can monitor the development of the Ram Temple at the location.
February 5, 2020
The Union Cabinet approved the fitting of the Trust, with the Prime Minister making the announcement within the Lok Sabha. The Trust, named Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra, is to require decisions independently on the development of the Ram temple and related issues. it’s been handed over the entire 67.703 acres acquired “to maintain the sanctity of Ayodhya and for the development of the temple, keeping in mind the wants of crores of devotees,” Modi said.
VHP leader Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Trust, announced that there would be no change to the Ram Temple from the model suggested by the VHP 30 years ago.
The prayers and therefore the ceremony started on Tuesday morning with the worship of Lord Hanuman’s mark in Ayodhya, as he’s believed to preside over town.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra has invited 175 people, including 133 saints and seers from 36 spiritual traditions everywhere the country, together with RSS, VHP and BJP leaders, including the party Faizabad MP Lallu Singh for Wednesday’s event. VHP’s representatives have sent holy soil from Uttarakhand’s Char Dham shrines and water from Ganga for the Bhumi Pujan.