Raising the pitch in the run-up to the UP Assembly polls, Rahul Gandhi today said that had anyone from the Gandhi family been active in 1992, the Babri Masjid demolition would have never taken place.

Speaking to reporters on the way from Meerut to Deoband in the Muslim heartland of UP, Gandhi said: “Had anyone from the Gandhi family been active then, it would not have happened at all. I have heard my father telling my mother that he would have stood in front of the masjid to protect it.”

“Since 1991, the Congress has not fought elections in UP in a proper fashion. But this time we are going to do that.”

And addressing students at Deoband’s Islamic seminary, Rahul reminded them of his family’s heritage. “I am blind to caste and religion. I see everyone as Hindustani... If one Hindustani tries to harm another, I promise I will come in between. Please remember that I am the grandson of Indira Gandhi,” he told the audience.

Though aimed at garnering crucial Muslim votes in the Assembly elections, his remark that the Babri Masjid demolition would not have taken place if a Gandhi had been active in politics then betrays both ignorance of history and a dynastic arrogance that smack of political immaturity.

Since the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992 took place when the P V Narasimha Rao government was ruling at the Centre, Rahul’s comments are a direct indictment of his own party and its erstwhile prime minister. Several senior Congress leaders at that time were critical of Rao’s perceived inaction that facilitated the demolition on that “Black Sunday.”

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