Before the Babri Masjid was pulled down in December 1992 by rampaging mobs mobilised over weeks and months by Hindutva outfits and BJP leaders, the political class — and indeed the Union government — was reasonably confident that the long-simmering dispute involving the idea of a Ram Janmabhoomi at Ayodhya and the counter-claims of Islamic social outfits on the question of Babri Masjid would not lend itself to a violent denouement. An important reason for this was the assurance proffered to the National Integration Council by the BJP that nothing untoward was on the cards. Therefore, what transpired on December 6 shook India as few events have since Independence. Eighteen years on, with a week to go for the verdict of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on the title suit as regards the disputed site, the BJP is silent (although its followers at various levels in Uttar Pradesh are reported to be restive). After the experience of 1992, few would see this as the silence of the lambs. RSS top guns have put it out that even if the court verdict to be delivered on September 24 is in favour of the stand of the Muslim organisations, it would respond through constitutional methods. This suggests that there would be no calls for violent mobilisation. However, no one can predict that a peaceful protest will necessarily remain peaceful. There are likely to be apprehensions that the so-called “dharm sansad” — or religious parliament — that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad plans to stage in Ayodhya to coincide with the high court judgment — may lead to untoward events unless Hindutva leaders take extreme precautions to ensure peace. Some Islamic outfits — notably the seminary at Deoband — have urged their followers to remain calm even if the court judgment does not suit them. This is a good sign. But unpredictability cannot be ruled out.
In the event, nervousness in government quarters is to be expected. The Cabinet Committee on Security has passed a resolution, which it took the trouble to publicise through newspaper advertisements, urging people not to be carried away by emotion by the ruling of the high court, and reminding votaries of all shades that an appeal could always be made to the Supreme Court by aggrieved parties. The Congress and its government at the Centre, in particular, have reasons to be concerned. The nasty turn events took in Ayodhya 18 years ago proved to be a watershed for the party as it was ignominiously swept from office, not to return for a very long period. Thus, the UPA government has gone out of its way to reinforce security in sensitive places, especially in UP where the disputed site is located.
If caution is not thrown to the winds, the much-awaited judgment has the potential to impact the campaigning for the Assembly election in Bihar, only weeks away. Therefore, the necessary bandobast has to be maintained in that state as well. Besides the saffron parties, the activities of others who have a stake in the Bihar polls, in particular, also need watching. Trouble could also possibly erupt in BJP-ruled states even if the party’s leaders publicly appeal for calm. This is a worry because many think that if the BJP were not in power in UP when the mosque was pulled down, it is unlikely that the unfortunate event would have come to pass.
We urge people not to get carried away, whatever their view of the judicial verdict next Friday. It took unduly long for the “mandir-masjid” mania to die down, and for social order to be restored. The country already has too many live security concerns to think of — the Maoist challenge, Kashmir, and the Northeast among them — for us to lose our composure again.