IMAM GETS THREAT NOTE
The Babri Masjid is demolished. Rioting breaks out all over India, leaving 1,200 people dead.
Three Allahabad high court judges begin hearings. The Archaeological Survey of India claims to have found evidence of a temple beneath the mosque.
The Liberhan Commission submits report to then PM Manmohan Singh, 17 years after its formation. The Supreme Court suspends the high court ruling.
Supreme Court calls for an out of court settlement. The Supreme Court decides to hear appeals challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict
ing of traditions at Sabarimala. The identity of this nation is Hindu, the original copy of the Constitution has Hindu imagery, but the population of Hindus is falling. This movement is about asserting our Hindu identity,” he says.
Is he motivated by RSS? The 43-year-old, who runs a manufacturing business, says he isn’t.
Political opponents of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) say the attempted revival of the Ram temple movement is an attempt to polarise the electorate ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. They allege that the BJP uses the temple issue as a prop to sway voters.
Shahid Siddiqui, a former member of the Rajya Sabha and a journalist, says the renewed temple movement is a “planned political move” by the BJP.
“The fact that they kept quiet Allahabad high court rules that the site should be trifurcated between Hindus, Muslims and the Nirmohi Akhara. Control of the main disputed section, where the mosque was torn down, is given to Hindus.
Supreme Court refuses to refer petition on whether mosque is an integral part of Islam to a larger bench
for four-and-a-half years is not accidental. They had planned to bring it up just ahead of the 2019 elections. And if the BJP cannot pass a law in Parliament, they will tell people to vote them back with a majority so that they can construct the temple. BJP knows their economic policies will pay them no dividends; of late there is no mention of Achchhe Din [good days],” he said.
In October, the Supreme Court turned down requests for an early hearing in the Babri MasjidRam Janmabhoomi title dispute and said the top court will decide the course of hearings in the first week of January.
BJP president Amit Shah recently told a TV channel: “Had it been our way, the case would have been settled and the Ram temple been constructed in Ayodhya.” He claimed that the party has always been in favour of the courts hearing the Ayodhya case on a priority basis, but the Congress has been delaying the case.
Jawaharlal Nehru University sociologist SS Jodhka said: “This mobilisation is part of the larger Hindutva cause. A section of the upper caste Hindus has always had an inclination for Hindutva ideology, and some of them have a sense of belief that democracy has affected them negatively.”
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said: “People are accosting the BJP government on unfulfilled promises on jobs, rural distress, corruption, demonetisation and the sad state of the economy. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi thinks he can take refuge behind emotive issues and escape these valid questions. He also knows he will not succeed.” LUCKNOW: Petitioner in the Babri Masjid-ram Janmbhoomi title suit Iqbal Ansari Wednesday said he got a threat to his life. He received a letter asking him to withdraw his case or else he would be killed. He said the letter also referred to advocate Zafaryab Jilani, who had been representing the case. SHO Ram Janmbhoomi Praduman Singh said he had not got any plaint and an action would be taken once a complaint was made to police.