As RSS plays hardball, Ayodhya turns a double-edged sword for BJP

With the 2019 general elections looming closer, a growing impatience is palpable among the RSS and even the many saffron allies regarding what they consider the delay in the construction of the Ram mandir in Ayodhya. The Centre could have lobbed the ball into the judicial court, citing the recent Supreme Court judgments and a possibility of an early disposal of the case, ahead of the 2019 general elections. On Thursday, however, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat demanded that the Centre go the parliamentary route and enact a law that will pave the way for construction of the temple in Ayodhya. "Temple construction is necessary from self-esteem point of view; it will also pave way for an atmosphere of goodwill and unity," Bhagwat said.  Earlier, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had said he would visit Ayodhya on November 25 and "question" Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue of delay in the construction of the temple.

Bhagwat said the sangh has been associated with sentiments of crores of country men in the efforts for construction of a magnificent Ram temple at the birthplace of Lord Rama, who is the personification of life energy of the nation and icon of upholding the dharma.  The acceptance of eternal Hindutva ethos is the panacea for fundamentalism, selfishness, unrestrained consumerism arising out of hardcore materialism and insensitivity, he said.

Several BJP leaders came out in support of Bhagwat's statements. BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said it is a constitutionally valid demand and the government should bring an ordinance for construction of the temple. "What Mr Bhagwat said is within constitution, is constitutionally valid. We have been seing that suni waqf board lawyers are only trying to delay the proceedings in the court. There is nothing really left, except delay, government should bring an ordinance," Swamy said. Shrikant Sharma, a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government and its spokesperson, echoed the view, saying a legislation to construct the temple at Ayodhya will be in accordance with the Constitution. He added that an ordinance in this regard can be part of the legal route.

Terming Bhagwat's speech as historic, former BJP MP Vinay Katiyar also rejected the contention that he made the demand for a law for the temple with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. BJP spokesperson G.V.L Narasimha Rao said a grand Ram temple must be built at the birthplace of Lord Ram. This is the desire of all Hindus. Krishna Saagar Rao, the official spokesperson of the Telangana unit of the BJP, said his party stood by its commitment to supporting and enabling Ram temple construction at Ayodhya. "In fact, he (Bhagwat) has said what Hindus of this nation want. BJP will certainly wish to wait our government's response to the RSS demand," he added.

However, firebrand Hindu leader Pravin Togadia on Thursday questioned why such a law was not enacted in the last four and a half years of BJP rule. "The RSS is raising the issue now because elections are around the corner and the BJP government's performance is dismal," Togadia, who quit the Vishwa Hindu Parishad earlier this year, alleged. In Lucknow, opposition parties and Muslim leaders said Bhagwat’s call was meant to serve political interests. "The statement on Ram temple given by the RSS chief is a political statement before the upcoming elections," Samajwadi Party spokesman in Uttar Pradesh Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI.

UP Congress spokesman Anshu Awasthi said it is an open secret that whenever the RSS and the BJP speak about Lord Ram it should be understood that elections are round the corner. "Now they are out to raise the name of Ram shamelessly at election time to serve their political interests," Awasthi added. Darul Uloom Farangi Mahal rector Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali said even a child knows that the Ram temple issue is raised by the RSS-BJP every time before the elections. Babri Masjid Action Committee convenor Zafaryab Jilani said Bhagwat is trying to influence the court, referring to the title suit for the disputed site in Ayodhya.

In Hyderabad, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said Bhagwat’s demand indicated that that the RSS and the BJP believe in "totalitarianism". “Do it,” he said, referring to the demand for enacting a law on Ram temple. “Who is stopping the RSS and their government?” “The RSS and the BJP believe in totalitarianism. They don't believe in pluralism or rule of law," Owaisi told reporters.

-Inputs from PTI