People's Democracy

BABRI  TO GUJARAT : A CHRONOLOGY

1986: On the recommendation of DM, worship by the Hindus permitted in the disputed area. In November, VHP performed the shilanyas in adjoining land, ensuing the long drawn legal dispute and political turmoil. The yatra of VHP with so-called Ram Shila incites bloody riots throughout the country, including the massacre in Bhagalpur, claiming hundreds of lives.

1988: BJP formally joined the Ramjanambhoomi movement with its resolution adopted in Palampur national council meeting.

1989: VHP permitted to lay the foundation stone, the so-called Ram Chabutra on the disputed site, further triggering riots in different parts of the country.

1990: Ramjanambhoomi Trust declared that the construction of the temple would start in June. L K Advani started his Rath Yatra from Somnath Mandir with a high-pitched, communally surcharged campaign, resulting in riots in his trail. In September, in the name of karseva, BJP-VHP assaulted the disputed site and started damaging the mosque. Their assault was thwarted by the Mulayam Singh Yadav government with the police firing on the miscreants leading to the death of some karsevaks. This event was magnified and perverted to extremities by the saffron sections with help from willing media. With the V P Singh government toppled by a no-confidence motion in the parliament, clashes continued and several people died in the consequent riots.

1991: With the help of an intense communal campaign, the BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh. This government acquired 2.77 acres of land adjoining the mosque and chief minister Kalyan Singh allowed constructions ignoring repeated directives from the court.

1992: Prime Minister Narasimha Rao came to an agreement with the Sants to stop their proposed construction to enable him to find a solution. The chief minister, Kalyan Singh assured status quo and the protection of the mosque. Despite this, the karaseva programme was launched and thousands gathered from different states at Ayodhya. L K Advani himself declared that the construction of the temple would continue come what may. The Supreme Court summoned Kalyan Singh and received his assurance that nothing more than some religious rituals, including music, would be performed. The National Integration Council empowered the Prime Minister to assert in any way he seemed justified to stop any vandalism. Yet P V Narasimha Rao failed to exercise it at all. Ultimately, on December 6th , the karsevaks stormed the mosque and demolished it in the presence of BJP top brass with the police and para-military forces watching without intervention. In the ensuing riots, hundreds of people were killed throughout the country.

1993: The central government proclaimed an ordinance to acquire 67.70 acres of land around the disputed site. Justice Liberhan Commission to investigate the demolition incident was appointed. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharati, Vinay Katiyar, Ashok Singhal and others were freed from judicial custody. In January, thousands were killed in anti-minority riots in Mumbai, perpetrated by the Shiv Sena-BJP combine. More than 200 people were killed in UP and Rajasthan. In March, Mumbai was rocked by serial blasts which killed nearly 300 people.

1994: Supreme Court refused to advise the central government on its petition whether a temple existed at the site of the disputed structure in Ayodhya. The VHP targeted new areas for creating tension and serious riots took place in Bangalore, Hubli.

1995: The VHP raised the slogan of “liberating” Mathura and Kashi. Bal Thackarey warned the Muslims after winning assembly elections.

1996: The BJP came to power at the centre for 13 days.

1998: In March, the BJP-led coalition came to power at the centre and a new situation emerged. Attacks on secular principles heightened to a great extent. Artists Jatin Das and Maqbul Fida Hussain, singer Ghulam Ali were attacked. In May, the government conducted nuclear tests at Pokhran and used them as a tool of ultra-nationalism and jingoism. It was even declared as a “Hindu Bomb”. The VHP leader, Ashol Singhal demanded  that  India be declared a “Hindu Rastra” by changing  the constitution.

The BJP declared that the temple issue is very much alive. In August, Sri Krishna Commission Report on Mumbai riots was published which accused Bal Thackerey as the chief planner and executor of the riots like an “expert military general”. No action was taken and the Advani-Vajpayee duo rushed to Mumbai to placate him.

In the state education ministers’ conference, saffronisation of education was attempted to propose; 14 states walked out in protest. Series of attacks began on the Christians—in Jhabua in MP, Dangs, Surat, Baroda in Gujarat. A hate campaign on so-called plank of anti-conversion was organised resulting in wide attacks on the Christians.

1999: From January to September one after another attacks took place against the Christians. Gruesome incidents of killing of Graham Staines and his son in Keonjhar in Orissa, rape of the nun in Baripada, Orissa, killing of a Father in Mayurbhanj in Orissa, at least 180 attacks on Christian schools and churches in south Gujrat, bomb blasts in churches in Goa, AP. The Prime Minister sought “a national debate” on conversion, thereby fuelling the hate campaign.

Saffronisation of higher education institutions started. UGC, ICHR, ICSSR were reorganized and packed with RSS followers. Stalling the publication of “Towards Freedom” project by prominent historians created controversy.

Border conflict in Kargil was sought to use by BJP-VHP-RSS in a communal way, particularly for electoral purposes.

2000: Commission for Constitution Review was constituted with an ill motive. The Prime Minister stated that Ramjanambhoomi movement was the expression of a “national sentiment”. His statement was followed by widespread riots in UP, Rajasthan, TN.

2001: The Babri accused including Advani, Joshi, Uma Bharati was relieved from the prosecution process as the technicalities of the chargesheet were found erroneous by the Allahabad High Court. UP govt refused to re-issue the chargesheet. Throughout the year, contradictory statements by the RSS-VHP-BJP leaders in the Liberhan commission. In June, VHP claimed to train 50 thousand cadres in arms training. History books written by Romila Thapar, Satish Chandra were withdrawn astrology included as a subject in universities.

2002: VHP openly declared that the construction of Ram temple would be started on 12^th March. In January, VHP discussed with PM and declared a programme of STAMVA PUJA .In February, VHP in fact performed a PUJA of the pillars in Ayodhya. VHP cadres began to arrive in Ayodhya resulting in countrywide tension. On 27^th February, the burning of Sabarmati Express took place.From,29^th onwards an unprecedented campaign of mass minority killing was organized in Gujarat. BJP government in Gujarat and the centre remained inactive spectators .