Opinion/ V C Bhaskaran

The game has always been to drive the Muslims against the wall

The BJP is in a quandary over the CBI-designated court's decision to frame charges against some of its leaders for the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, 1992.

Naturally, the United Front contingent and its main prop the Congress are happy. The BJP has been cornered for attempting to disturb the 'secular' fabric of Indian society.

The BJP has sought to explain the demolition as resulting from a mass movement. It has never defended the act or owned responsibility for it. The Shiv Sena and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have, however, claimed credit for it and even expressed happiness.

The BJP's rath yatra, led by its president L K Advani, has given their movement a great impetus. In the process, it has allowed a free hand to some fundamentalists to spit fire against the Muslim community. This is a wholly condemnable act. While no one can deny that many Mughal rulers discriminated against Hindus, by no stretch of reason could one take a vengeful attitude towards the whole community. But unfortunately, the seeds of hatred sowed by the British between Hindus and Muslims continue to vitiate our society.

The December 6 tragedy and its aftermath which resulted in the killings of hundreds of Muslims are symptomatic of the deep malaise that has afflicted us. The Congress-UF attitude of untouchability towards the BJP is only a vicious extension of that malaise -- this one for political gain at the cost of the country's long-term interests. Their glee at the BJP's discomfiture should be seen in this light.

The timing of the court's action was a most inopportune one for the BJP as the party's nominee for the Uttar Pradesh chief ministership, Kalyan Singh, was scheduled to take over from the incumbent Mayawati.

The BSP had also been waiting to queer the BJP's pitch in UP. BSP supremo Kanshi Ram suddenly discovered that changing the assembly speaker was a prerequisite to Mayawati handing over power to Kalyan Singh! Now that Kalyan Singh is in the dock over the Babri Masjid demolition, the issue assumed a moral dimension, especially as both the Election Commission and Parliament have agreed to debar those facing criminal prosecution from contesting elections.

In all probability, the BJP will break its alliance with the BSP after allowing it to enjoy its largesse. The same political expediency which prompted the BJP to enter into an untenable alliance with the BSP should, however, impel it to bend a little -- if not more -- to get back power. Power, after all, is very important for a party caught in a bind.

At the time of the Babri demolition, the BJP was in power in UP under Kalyan Singh. The central government was with the Congress under P V Narasimha Rao. Framing charges against both Rao and then home minister S B Chavan will only be a logical step for the prosecution.

By the same logic, Sharad Pawar, then Maharashtra chief minister, should also be brought to book. Bombay witnessed the worst rioting in its history soon after the Babri incident. Counteraction engineered by fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim in the RDX bombings of some vital locations in Bombay on March 12, 1993 was possible only because of the active collusion of a section of the police and political leadership.

I was in Bombay on the day of the blast and escaped death by the skin of my teeth. A committed police inspector, who had vital clues on the Memon brothers who masterminded the execution of Ibrahim's plans, was prevented from going ahead with his investigation. Worse, the criminals were allowed safe passage to Dubai. Sudhakar Naik, who was chief minister during the December-January rioting, had to resign; but his successor Pawar continued regardless.

The list of communal rioting in the country since Independence is a long and tragic one. And invariably in all these cases, the Congress was in power. Some inquiry reports speak volumes on man's inhumanity to man, nurtured and nourished by a self seeking political leadership. The game has always been to drive the Muslims against the wall.

Law is reason, without passion -- that is an old saying. If the Lucknow court's action is taken in that spirit, it is well for all. However, if it is used to gather political mileage and electoral advantage, it will further accentuate the communal divide.

Advani and company will have to prove their innocence. If they are found guilty, no one need shed any tear. We have to live in peace. India can no longer afford to be a plaything in the hands of forces inimical to us.

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