Despite soaring spirits, euphoria 1992-like frenzy missing
AYODHYA: As a large number of Shiv Sena volunteers moved from one temple to the other on Saturday, the chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ many residents of Ayodhya were reminded of the horror witnessed in the temple town after the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.
However, given the limited scale of the VHP’s Dharam Sabha to garner support for Ram temple in Ayodhya, the frenzy witnessed among ‘Kar Sevaks’ in October-November 1990 and on December 6, 1992, is missing this time around.
Unlike 1992, when top BJP leaders like LK Advani, Uma Bharti and Murli Manohar Joshi anchored the massive build-up through ‘Rath Yatra’ various programmes spanning two years and covering several states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and UP, the VHP has limited its Dharam Sabha campaign in the adjoining districts of Ayodhya.
Over the years, the local residents of Ayodhya have also distanced themselves from the Ram temple movement.
A local resident, Mohammad Ashraf, said: “We see tension only when outsiders come here. Muslims are contributing a lot to the local economy. We are not opposed to temple. Muslim women residing in areas around the disputed Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid complex make garlands for local temples. Muslim men make ‘khadaun’ (footwear) for seers. Both Hindus and Muslims live peacefully but we are not sure of outsiders who may create trouble anytime.”
Sanjay Raundal, who reached Ayodhya from Nashik (Maharashtra) to take part in the Shiv Sena’s “Ashirvadotsav” here, said: “I remember December 1992. I was on way to Ayodhya when police stopped me on the borders of Maharashtra. Many Kar Sevaks had reached Ayodhya to demolish the Babri Masjid. The situation in Ayodhya has changed now.”
Other people also travelled down the memory lane to compare the situation in Ayodhya in 1990-1992 and the present day.
“Curfew was clamped in Ayodhya when the then chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav ordered firing on Kar Sevaks in 1990. Later, it all happened within minutes and the disputed structure was demolished. ‘Shiladaan’ was organised in 2003 but nothing more happened all these years though general condition has improved to some extent due to rising footfall here,” said Ram Krishna Gupta, who runs a shop outside Hanuman Garhi temple.
“We hope an ordinance is issued to build the temple now,” he added.
Besides broadening of roads, Ayodhya has been renamed and elevated to a district and division. A notification to rename Faizabad district and division as Ayodhya was issued on Friday to give a message of change to seers and local people. Another shopkeeper, who did not wish to be named, said, “We know Ayodhya is a district and a division now. You can also see the improved condition of roads that have been recently re-laid. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has been making frequent visits and footfall of pilgrims and development in area has led to rising income of city residents.”