No Surprises Why RSS is Hailing Ayodhya Land Title Verdict

New Delhi: The sarsanghchalak (supremo) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mohan Bhagwat addressed the media after announcement of the long-pending judgement on the dispute over the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land title. The judgement given by the Supreme Court on Saturday ruled that the disputed site will go to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas while the Sunni Waqf board will get five acres of suitable land elsewhere.

Welcoming the judgement, which echoes the wishes of the Hindu fundamentalist organisations, such as the RSS (i.e the Ram temple be built), the RSS supremo spoke about peace and unity. He evaluated the judgement as a fair one that had considered the arguments of all the parties involved in the case. However, he also said, “I congratulate and thank all the judges who stood bravely with the truth.”

However, it is this “truth” for the RSS and Sangh Parivar, that Babri Masjid was built over a Ram temple, is what led to one of the most communally charged riots across the country followed by the demolition of the mosque on December 6, 1992 by kar sevaks belonging to the Sangh Parivar and affiliates, such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and cheered by top BJP leaders.

Also Watch: Ayodhya: How History Could Have Been Different

This Mohan Bhagwat who is now talking ‘peace and calm’ is the same who was always heard raising war cries for building the temple. In May this year, in one of the events in Udaipur just after the Lok Sabha election results were declared, Bhagwat had reportedly said, “Raam ka kaam karna  hain aur who hokar rahega. Sabko milkar karna hai ram ka kaam. (Ram’s work is to be done and will surely be done. Everybody will have to do Ram’s work collectively.)” Of course, as noted above, it is but obvious that Bhagwat is welcoming the verdict because this is what the RSS wanted.

In 2017, Bhagwat addressing a congregation of the Hindu saints, Mutt heads and the VHP leaders in Karnataka had said, “Ram Mandir only will be constructed and nothing else.” While today, on being asked by the media about the court granting the land for the mosque, Bhagwat sounded generous when he said that it was not for him to decide where to give the land and the central government would take care of that.

Also read: Ayodhya Verdict: Just or Majoritarian?

Finally, Bhagwat ended his three-minute long press conference by saying, “forgetting the past, we will all come together and involve ourselves in the work of building a grand temple for Ram.” This was the only mention of the Babri Masjid demolition. As is clear, the demolition was made to sound as a normal thing to have happened ‘in the past’ which could be easily forgotten. This, when the entire Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the demolition of the mosque was nothing but ‘never forgetting the past’.

Also, Bhagwat must remember that the ‘past’ that he is ready to forget now is, according to the same judgement that he is welcoming, a crime. The stains of it are not washed away, yet.,

Also Read: SC Allows Temple Construction In Disputed Land; Alternate Plot Of 5 Acres For Mosque