On Dec 6th, 1992 when the Babri Masjid was brought down, in certain quarters it was said that PM P V Narasimha Rao had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Others who tracked the developments and followed Rao's actions essentially guided by the philosophy of not to take decision is also a DECISION -- also argued that till Nov 30, 1992, Rao had won the Round One !
A career diplomat Mani knows the best way to push sale of a new book is to be around headlines when the book is being released or just released. Hence, his statement is not a bit surprising.
Moreover, he remains maverick as always and also arrogant. Perhaps Mani would not mind being given some backhanded compliment for his intellectual arrogance ! This was one vice that affliclted the Rajiv Gandhi's government and the rest followed like a pack of cards.
This is what Mani said:
"I asked him (Rao), ‘Sir, what is wrong with my definition of secularism?’ and his reply which has remained engraved in my heart and on my soul was, ‘Mani you don’t understand that this is a Hindu country’.
I sat up in my chair and said, ‘This is what the BJP says. (But) this is not a Hindu country. We are a secular country and in this secular country we have a huge majority of Hindus but we also have nearly 200 million Muslims and several other Christians, Jews, Parsis and Sikhs. So how can we be a Hindu country? We can only be a secular country.’”
“It is because Narasimha’s mind was so partisan, was so sectarian that he led this country from the secular path to the communal path.”
Let us talk a little about December 1992 and Rao's blunder here!!
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| A scholar PM: Whom Congress did insult always !! |
These are some of the pointers:
1. P V Narasimha Rao as PM and head of the Govt of India failed to evolve his own plans to counter BJP's strategy even as from Nov 19, 1992, he was being 'advised' and was virtually under pressure from some cabinet colleagues (like Arjun Singh) and also intelligence officials to dismiss the UP Government.
2. By Nov 27, the UP govt headed by Kalyan Singh gave an assurance to the Supreme Court that the state government and machineries will 'prevent' the kar sevaks from violating the court order.
3. Nov 30, Rao seemed to have the first round as BJP stood isolated -- both politically and legally.
4. It later came to light that the IB and other agencies had advised the centre to act by Nov 22 and 24. Many Congress leaders later said, Rao disregarded the opinion and argued harsh measures could result in a higher scale of reactions!
Crucial quotes:
"The Babri mosque is a sign of slavery. An independent India would not accept it". --- Murli Manohor Joshi
*** "I warned Prime Minister (Rao) that the BJP had stormed the mosque ..." - Subodh Kant Sahay
(If Rao had failed as PM, his Home Minister S B Chavan could not be given clean chit. On Dec 5, 1992, hours before the disputed structure was brought down; Chavan reportedly told a few officials:
"We will make BJP sing Bhajans".
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