Grand Ram Mandir to be built by the year-end: Swamy (Milligazette Report)

New Delhi: Delhi University (DU) administration’s decision to permit a two-day seminar (9-10 January) on Ram Janmbhoomi temple by a VHP affiliate drew criticism from both the teachers and students of DU who accused the administration of vitiating the atmosphere of the university. BJP leader, Subramanian Swamy was to deliver the inaugural address at the seminar. The university explained that DU had nothing to do with the subject matter of the seminar as it has only provided venue to the said organisation. Student groups and teachers came openly against the seminar and criticised the University’s decision. The controversy on seminar escalated when some unidentified youth tried to paint the statue of Swami Vivekananda with saffron colour in the Art Faculty. The All India Students Union (AISU) issued a statement accusing that first the JNU tried to invite Baba Ramdev for talk at the Vedic Congress, then the DU gave permission for a seminar “which shows the government was trying to push its saffron agenda in education.” National president of AISU, Suchita Dey, said that students were ready to give a befitting reply to this programme. The Students Federation of India (SFI) demanded that DU must withdraw permission for the seminar, which would communalise the campus. Delhi University Teachers’ organisations like DTF and CTF also said that such events, which are divisive in nature, should not get nod from educational institutions. They reminded that in the recent past, programmes of Ramdev and Yogi Adityanath were cancelled by the JNU and Allahabad University, when opposed by the students. The seminar entitled “Shri Ram Janmabhoomie Temple: Emerging Scenario” was finally organised by Arundhati Vishishth Centre, which was founded by the late VHP leader, Ashok Singhal. The All-India Milli Council (AIMC) showed strong opposition to this event and termed it as against the spirit of the Constitution. The general secretary of the council, Dr. Manzoor Alam, said in a press statement that at the time when the Babri Masjid’s main case is going to be heard in the Supreme Court soon, such programmes could affect the legal process. He reminded that the DU being a reputed educational institution of the country, shouldn’t have allowed a programme which is related to VHP and Subramanian Swamy, a known Muslim-critic, whose utterances were sure to hamper the communal harmony of the country. He said that these people mention the five-year-old Allahabad High Court verdict, but fail to remember that the case is now in the Supreme Court for its final hearing. Swamy had predicted on 6 January that the construction of the temple would start before the end of the current year. He added that the temple would not be constructed through a movement, but it will come up with the “active cooperation of Muslim brothers”. He further said a mosque would also be built on the other side of Saryu River. He claimed that efforts are being made to resolve the issue amicably between Hindus and Muslims, so that both the temple and the masjid come up on the two sides of the Saryu river in Ayodhya. The last Delhi and Bihar assembly elections both failed to infuse new life in the BJP poll strategy. Now, they are trying the “Ram Mandir” issue, which is still in the Supreme Court, but they have started transporting stones for the same from Rajasthan. VHP, reacting to Swamy’s statement, has made it clear that without bringing a law in Parliament, the Mandir is impossible to build. The organisation said that only the Lok Sabha majority cannot carry the day for BJP. Dr. Subramanian Swamy is constantly issuing controversial statements about the construction dates of the proposed Mandir. On 8 January, TV channels aired Subramanian Swamy’s statement that “the construction of Ram Mandir would start in August, 2016. All the material is ready at hand and so far as my information is concerned, the court would give its verdict in our favour and Ram Mandir would be ready soon.” The opponents of the seminar held posters, banners and shouted slogans. They blamed that with such programmes, RSS and BJP were trying to alter the thinking of students. The police had to resort to lathi-charge and arrest many active protesters. Inside the venue, Subramanian Swamy said that Muslims are not against the Mandir, but some Hindus are against it, who are protesting against it, because they want to develop their politics. He said that the anti-Mandir people are anti-BJP. He said that Muslims had said that if it is proved that there was a Mandir here before, Muslims would give up their claim. He said that if the Masjid can be removed from here, we are ready to give you land on the bank of Saryu river. He said that Rajiv Gandhi had promised to support the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. Therefore, C ongress should support Ram Mandir. Swamy said that more than 40 thousand temples were demolished in our country during the Muslim era. Out of these we want only three: Ram Janma Bhoomi, Krishna Mandir in Mathura and Kashi Vishwanath Mandir. He said those who are opposing the seminar are intolerant to the extreme. The BJP is supporting Subramaniam Swamy as if he is a cabinet minister. He has been provided with a house like a cabinet minister and a security cover equivalent to the same standard. It seems this all is provided to him for spreading hatred against Muslims. It seems when the BJP’s slogan sab ka saath sab ka vikas didn’t work, it started a full-fledged communal propaganda to divide Hindus and Muslims. Swamy has written to the Prime Minister Modi to intervene and seek hearing on the Ram Janmabhumi case in the Supreme Court on a day-to-day basis, to finish the matter soon. In UP, the state labour minister, Shahid Manzoor went to Ayodhya to meet Hashim Ansari, because Ansari  is angry with the UP government over Bakkal Nawab issue. Hashim Ansari, who is a party to the Babri-Ram Mandir issue, stated in a recent statement that the main accused in demolishing of the Babri Masjid is the former prime minister, Narasimha Rao. He said that all the leaders are trying to take advantage of the issue. We are now waiting the Supreme Court verdict, whether it goes in our favour or against us. He said that the former Congress leader, Narsimha Rao, had demolished the Masjid at the disputed site. He said, “Rao knew the plan beforehand, but kept mum and didn’t take any action. He said that after the demolition, Rao addressed the nation on TV and promised that he would get the Masjid rebuilt, but he cheated Muslims and didn’t get the Masjid rebuilt. Ansari accused BJP of committing serious crimes. He said that even after 23 years the Congress and BJP continued to play with the law of the land and no accused was punished. But he didn’t say anything about the Samajwadi party! (Salahuddin Ahmed)   Source: MilliGazette