Express Focus -- INTERVIEW -- by Indian Express

January 15, 2001

‘Ayodhya is a national, not political issue’

With the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue hogging political centrestage once again — thanks to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s series of statements leading to a parliamentary debate on the issue — speculation is rife that the BJP may go for Assembly elections in UP sooner than scheduled. It could be in October or even with Assembly polls in five states in March this year. The state witnessed a change of guard only two months back with Rajnath Singh replacing septuagenarian Ram Prakash Gupta and three-time state president Kalraj Mishra taking over the reins of the party for a record fourth term. Will this lead to a change in the party’s fortune as well? SHARAD GUPTA spoke to Kalraj Mishra on these issues. Excerpts:

Doesn’t the BJP feel embarrassed with the Ram Temple issue coming back to the political centrestage, especially since the party had dropped it from its agenda?
We haven’t raked up the issue. It was the opposition which wanted to reap a political harvest by raising the Ayodhya issue year after year. The BJP is not embarrassed at all and should not be accused of exploiting the Ram Janmabhoomi issue. The Opposition should be blamed.

But, does the state BJP agree with the Prime Minister that wrongs done in the past can’t be set right by the wrongs committed in modern times?
He stated a fact. We did not demolish the disputed structure in Ayodhya. People had gone there for construction, not for destruction, and razed the structure to the ground in reaction to the provocative stance taken by the Congress, Janata Dal and the Left parties. These parties are equally responsible for the demolition and it is not proper to blame the RSS and the BJP for demolishing the structure.

How was construction possible there until the mosque was removed and how can you run away from the responsibility of demolishing the Babri mosque?
Construction was possible even while the structure was there. It could have started at a distance and before completion, a consensus could have been evolved between different communities. The BJP always stood for temple construction through conciliation and not confrontation. None of the BJP leaders participated in the demolition. The old structure could have been renovated. But the manner in which it was carried out was not proper.

But, weren’t slogans like ek dhakka aur do, Babri Masjod tod do, being raised, provoking the mob to demolish the mosque?
No BJP leader raised such slogans. There is evidence, even video tapes, to show that Advaniji and Sheshadriji were dissuading people from damaging the structure. Those raising provocative slogans were only few and BJP-RSS workers were not among them.

The VHP’s dharma sansad in Allahabad is likely to announce dates for the temple construction. What is the BJP’s stand on that?
The BJP can’t be equated with the VHP which is basically a cultural organisation. The BJP stands for construction by adopting the ‘‘most modern’’ methods of achieving harmony while the VHP stands for ‘‘temple at all costs’’. We are hopeful that the VHP will not do anything to disturb communal harmony. Temple construction is not on our agenda because our allies in UP as well as the Centre don’t like it.

But suppose you come in full majority tomorrow, would you go for temple construction?
We never promised to construct the temple. Earlier also, the BJP only promised to remove obstacles on the way to temple construction. Even if we come back in absolute majority, we will strive to construct the temple at the site of the disputed mosque and a mosque at an alternative site, but only by persuading all concerned parties and not by force. There should be no ill-feelings anywhere.

Won’t you wait for the court verdict?
Court proceedings have been going on for past 53 years but without any result. Negotiations and out of court settlement is another way of a quick solution.

Don’t the PM’s statements like ‘‘The Ayodhya movement was an expression of national sentiments and it was still incomplete’’, hamper the party’s message urging Muslims to join the BJP?
There was nothing wrong in the PM’s statement as people from all over the country had come to Ayodhya during the movement. So it indeed was expression of national sentiments. The movement remains incomplete till a full-fledged temple is constructed there. Since we never promised construction of Ram Temple, why should you presume that the BJP was antagonising Muslims. There is absolutely no conflict in the PM’s statement and party’s Nagpur message.

Will you make it an election issue as well?
Yes, but only if other parties raise it. We will then raise it in a big way, exposing the role of all other parties, like we did in Parliament. We consider Ayodhya a national issue and not a political issue. It should be resolved with all parties working together.

Has the political atmosphere in UP changed with the change of guards in both the state government and the party unit?
Yes, of course there is a perceptible change. Ram Prakash Gupta also did lot of work but it was not noticed due to his negative image in the media. The Government’s credibility has increased manifold during past two months. My Kisan Jagran Yatra has yielded magical results. I came to know of the problems being faced by farmers in the state and told Rajnath Singh who promptly responded. Similarly, a number of welfare measures have been taken for other communities as well.

You seem to be buoyed with party and the government’s achievements. Does that mean the BJP is going for polls ahead of schedule?
No. We have already gained a lot but why should we go for early elections. This is a rumour being spread by the Opposition. Let me assure you that our government will complete its full term.