For about a week after Dec 6, 1992 -- the Congress party's well known shouting brigade went missing and those who spoke ... did so quite politely. In contrast what the demolition and subsequent developments including arrests of key leaders did for the saffron outfit -- a few political antidotes could have achieved.
The demolition, on December 6, 1992, changed several things in Indian politics. For many Indians, the destruction marked an unexpected chapter. Many Hindus who wanted the Ram temple did not approve demolition of the masjid or the structure.
But for India's increasingly strident Hindu rightwing, it meant unfinished business.....
Govind Acharya, a powerful BJP general secretary then, had said -- "If there had been a construction of Ram temple; there would have been no demolition".
In December 31, 1992 issue; 'India Today' reported -- "Barring Rao (the then PM), no leader of stature was willing to launch against the BJP. Arjun Singh and Sharad Pawar were almost polite while voicing their disapproval. Madhavrao Scindia ..... was ominously silent". (report by Yubaraj Ghimire and Rahul Pathak)
The report maintained that the Congress party "was unable to orchestrate" enough voices to hurl abuse against the BJP.
On Dec 6th within hours the Babri Masjid was demolished, L K Advani was upset and many thought ... the future of the BJP would go like the fate of the disputed structure Babri and get 'demolished'. But P V Narasimha Rao over-acted as was later described by Late PM Chandrashekhar.
The Govt had ordered arrest of Advani and also Dr Murli Manohor Joshi. It was later debated that even Advani was "surprised" by Government's move.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was shocked by the demolition. started 'defending' Advani and the Kar Sevaks.
And hence, 'India Today' reported -- "It quelled the disarray among the cadres. And it distracted the nation from the original perfidy - the demolition of the mosque".
The Rao government subsequently decided to ban RSS, VHP, the Bajrang Dal, the Islamic Sevak Sangh and the Jamat-i-Islami-Hind under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.
Of course, it was clear - the then Prime Minister Rao wanted to use to use the ban as a signal that the politics of consensus was over.
From now he was going to counter "communal forces" head-on -- even if meant polarising political parties.
Other major developments had happened related to the RSS.
Perhaps it was clear for everyone that the ban was 'difficult' to enforce against RSS and its numerous associate bodies.
In December 1992 - the fact of the matter was --
the Sangh had 35,000 Shakhas
* it had 25 lakh active members
** And 84 other affiliated organisations manner by RSS pracharaks.
*** Out of these at least 20 were hyper-active in the Janambhoomi stir.
Technically; the official ban did not apply to these bodies because they were registered under different names.
Since 1992, Ayodhya had become a virtual fortress, guarded by 1,500-2000 security personnel and surrounded by razorwire.
At least 3,000 people were killed at the time in communal riots.
For several years ... the VHP actually sponsored a stone-cutting workshop near Ayodhya to make pillars and other ornaments for use in that unbuilt temple.
In 2002 after Godhra train inferno and riots in Gujarat - a general refrain was there was a lot of disgust at what happened among sensible, reasonable Hindus.
Professor Zoya Hassan, a political analyst at Delhi's Jarwarhalal Nehru University had said. "I don't think they want a return to 1992 or the communal violence in which thousands of people were killed".
But; where Faith is .... reality is !!
ends
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