‘Bhumi Pujan’ of Ram Mandir by PM Modi will be remembered as a historical moment.

Notwithstanding the failures of Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh and  a serious threat to economy due to Covid 19, ‘Bhumi Pujan’ (Ground Breaking) ceremony of construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya performed by  Prime minister Narender Modi under the virus restrictions on  August 5 will be remembered as a  historical moment after a  long legal battle and outcome of ‘Hindutava’ Movement and it may lay foundation of retaining the power in UP in 2022 assembly  and 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the country.

Had Atal Bihari Vajpayee been alive then he would have witnessed the culmination of Ram Janambhumi cause as BJP  took the decision 40 years back  to support RSS drawn battle initiated by its wing, Vishav Hindu Parishad Viz. ‘LIBERATION OF RAMJANAMBHUMI IN AYODHAYA’ under his stewardship in 1980. It became a joint movement of BJP and RSS which underwent legal battle in various courts  besides creating the awakening amongst the Hindus who supported the party to snatch the power  from Congress .

It was on the intervening night of Dec.22-23,1949 when idols of Ram and Lakshman were secretly placed under central dome of Babri Masjid. Central government under prime ministership of late Rajiv Gandhi took the decision to open the locks of temple in 1986 and performed the ‘Pooja’ ceremony.

Rajiv Gandhi started his election campaign in 1989 with the promise of ‘Ram Rajya’ but failed to get Hindu votes hence lost.

BJP had continuously inserted in its manifestoes of parliamentary polls in 1998, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2017 UP assembly polls that efforts will be made for construction of Ram Mandir and battle will continue in courts also. Advani’s contribution of whipping up Hindu emotions will be remembered  by BJP and RSS who always said that birthplace of Ram at Ayodhya is matter of Faith though later supreme court settled the issue on the basis of historical facts and evidences.

Prime Minister Modi’s role in taking BJP to new heights

Interestingly, PM Modi had accompanied Advani to coordinate and look after the logistics of ‘Ratha Yatra’ who used to stay in an adjacent room with RSS intellectual Govindachraya at party headquarters in Delhi.

Senior journalist and writer, Tavleen Singh in her book ‘MESSIAH MODI? A Tale Of Great Expectations’ says “ I remember that Modi’s room had almost no furniture other than two narrow beds and two small tables and that it resembled the servants’ quarters in the bungalows of Lutyens Delhi”.

It was Modi’s entry in 2014 lok sabha elections which helped BJP to win 282 seats as compared to 116 in 2009 when Advani headed election campaign which went to a new height to 303 seats in 2019 elections ‘Charisma Modi’.

CHANGES IN THE OLD DESIGN OF RAM MANDIR

The height of Ayodhya’s grand Ram mandir would be 161-feet, an increase by 20-feet from the previous design which was prepared in 1988, according to Nikhil Sompura, architect and the son of C Sompura, chief architect of the temple, Nikhil Sompara .

“The earlier design was made in 1988, now over 30 years have passed and so the footfall will increase with time. People are also very enthusiastic about visiting the temple so we thought its size should be increased. In view of this, the height of the mandir has been increased from 141-feet to 161-feet, ’two mandaps’ have been added to the design ,he added. All pillars and the stones that were carved based on the earlier design will still be used, they will not be wasted,” he added.

Political observers feel that temple construction issue may be exploited by BJP in coming state polls in Bihar and UP and later in Lok Sabha elections which could be last as this issue may be Dead in future? But none can predict how much impact this emotive issue will make on the minds of Hindu voters to create Hindutava Wave in favour of BJP?

VAJPAYEE’S HISTORICAL SPEECH ON THE EVE OF MOSQUE DEMOLITION

When Atal Bihari Vajpayee spoke of ‘leveling the ground’ in his speech to ‘kar sevaks’ in 1992, he might not have imagined its impact on the psyche of those who had reached Ayodhya which was facilitated by Kalyan Singh administration.

Vajpayee gave the historical speech on December 5, 1992, a day before the Babri Masjid was demolished. Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi crisis was reaching a crescendo. Atal Bihari Vajapyee addressed a gathering of kar sevaks at Jhandewalan Park in Aminabad, Lucknow.

Vajpayee had categorically stated that he was neither involved in the demolition nor had prior knowledge of it. Yet, when a video of his speech (which was recorded by intelligence agencies) surfaced in 2004, suspicion arose that he knew what was about to happen the next day. He spoke in parliament and expressed grief over the incident but pitied Narsimha Rao for expecting any leniency from opposition?

LK ADVANI’S RATH YATRA PROVED HURRICANE FOR BJP

Atal’s leadership took BJP from 2 MPs to 85 MPs which got real fillip when Lal Krishan Advani undertook his controversial Somnath to Ayodhya Rath Yatra from Sept 25, 1990 to October, 1990 which was nearly three decades ago on Oct 23, 1990.

Advani’s  Chariot, a swanky air conditioned monster of a vehicle, was stopped on track by an ebullient Bihar CM, Lalu Prasad Yadav at a little known place Samistipur prior to reaching Ayodhaya on Oct 30 setting off events which shaped the country’s politics.

In a tragic incident, twenty eight Kar Sevaks were killed when UP government police opened the firing as they tried to enter the Babri Masjid at Ayodhaya which was finally pulled down on Dec 6,1992.

The Yatra whipped up Hindu sentiments which took BJP from strength of 85 MPs in 1989 to 120 MPs in 1991 elections. The fallout of  Advani’s arrest was withdrawal of support from VP Singh government which implemented Mandal recommendations providing 27 percent to OBCs in the country.

CONTROVERSY ABOUT INVITEES AS IT IS BJP/RSS SHOW

A 15 member, Ram Janambhumi Theertha Kshetra Trust led by K.Parasaran comprising of government nominees, spiritual Gurus, prominent civilians etc will look after the construction of temple.

Congress leaders like Ex CM, Digvijai Singh and Shashi Tharoor said that ceremony was about BJP’s unveiling of political matter of Faith and if it is so then why other parties were not been invited by trust? BJP is mixing religion with politics which has been done always to derive political mileage, they added.

Without dwelling upon the political aspect  of his speech which he started with the slogan of “Jai Siya Ram,” Prime Minister  called today’s ceremony as a historic occasion. “I am grateful to witness history being made and  Crores of Indians cannot believe that this day has come. The entire country is in the spell of Lord Ram,” he said.

“Lord Ram was worshipped in Nepal, Indonesia and several other nations which reflected his relevance and greatness” Modi added.

He also paid a visit to Ram Janmabhoomi Remembering the sacrifices made in the struggle. RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat remembered former deputy PM, L. K. Advani and made it clear that temple belonged to everyone and India has got capacity to become Self reliant which should be our aphorism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid down a 40 Kg silver brick to mark the foundation ceremony of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.

Modi was amongst the one hundred seventy five prominent persons  present at Ayodhya and shared the dais with just four other people — RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, trust chief Nritya Gopaldas Maharaj, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, and CM Yogi Adityanath.

Keeping in mind the Covid 19, seating arrangements were made in accordance with social distancing principle. Prior to it, the prime minister along with Adityanath had offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi. Ahead of the ceremony, Ayodhya has been decked up. The city has been painted yellow, an auspicious colour of knowledge and learning.