Ayodhya a union territory, an international city of Sri Rama

Return to Ayodhya

Tarun Vijay (Times of India, 5 Jul 2009, 2223 hrs IST)

Ayodhya belongs to us all, like Ram. Having made the nation wait for 17 long years, the Liberhan Commission report hasn’t made even an iota of difference. The only course left for the government now is to approach the Guinness Book of Records to get an award for the longest procrastination to the commission and carry on with the national business. If the Congress, in its zeal to encash on its value for Muslim appeasement, wants to create a scene after it, it will be in for a shock. Ayodhya is a difficult issue for it – its hands are everywhere from opening the locks to laying the foundation stone and later the Rao era.

The fact is no power can now shift the temple built on Ram Janma Bhumi. Daily puja is going on uninterruptedly, notwithstanding a terrorist attack on it. The chargesheets and the case etc. have lost their relevance. Those who took up the cause politically are a divided house, some converting to the neo-‘secularism’ and have lost all credibility in the public eye. Even if the temple was a long-distance call, they could have at least taken care of the Ayodhya city, its protectors and the carriers of an invaluable flow of traditions – the sadhus and mathadhipatis. They didn’t do anything.

Take care of Ayodhya.

It’s a city of Ram and India would be less than a nation if Ram is taken away or left isolated like a post-Columbus American-Indian village.

Turn Ayodhya into an international city of grandeur like Thailand has done to its own Ayutthaya. It’s a city defining India, the heritage, the immortal literature woven around it, the dreams and aspirations of people sung keeping it in the centre, the river Sarayu and the dust turned holier because Ram had played in it. It’s incredibly Indian and unbelievably divine. It will earn spiritual solace. Those who think in terms of euros and dollars won’t be disappointed. That would come with a political mileage for all times without ruffling any feathers or denting a vote bank.

After all, Rajiv Gandhi had started his election campaign from there, promising Ram Rajya. For a devout Sikh Manmohan Singh, Guru Granth Saheb has most adorable references to Ram. And for others, Ram is India, which has given them so much of respect and power without bothering about their religion or origin. Mohammad Iqbal, the famous poet had said: Ram is Imame Hind – the greatest icon of India. They all owe a great deal to repay a debt to this land’s civilisational power that has been soothing and compassionate to all coming from diverse backgrounds and having different ideas.

Don’t deny Ayodhya this time. Die unsung but be honest once to your conscience. Ayodhya has been ditched immeasurably by her own small-time courtiers.

Ayodhya deserves to be developed as an international city of Ram, the Prince of Ayodhya, who fought the devils and gave us reason to celebrate Diwali, now the global festival of lights. And his return to Ayodhya makes us enact Ram Lilas and burn effigies of an unrepentant wicked demon. That’s why we have a Vijaya Dashami, the Dushehra. Ayodhya is unquestioningly intertwined into the lives of billions of Hindus who would prefer a Ram Ram or Jai Siyaram as a salutation than a Namaste. The joys and sorrows of Sita, the Janaki, the Van-gaman, exile to the forest, the Luv and Kush episodes. And the ultimate JalSamadhi, self-immersion by Ram in Sarayu. It’s all Ayodhya. Later Luv established Lahore and even the Pakistan government feels proud about this fact in its travel literature and Kush established Bedi clan, to which belonged Guru Goovind Singh Saheb as per his Bani, the holy words.

That’s us put together. That’s Ayodhya’s legacy.

Make Ayodhya a union territory. A city extraordinaire must be maintained under extraordinary dispensation – central government. Let NRIs design and fund it. Reward the pujaris and sadhus who had been keeping the flame of dharma and city’s sanctity alive, living in penury, ignored and isolated. They deserve warmth of belongingness and we owe it to them. The bungalow owners of metros and those who raise decibels in parliament for nothing never help in protecting the heritage. Those who do it must be recognized. Ayodhya is more than Ang Kor Wat, because from Korean princes to the builders of Ang Kor, they all took inspiration from this city on the banks of the Sarayu. It’s not just a parliamentary or assembly seat.

An International Rama University, a Janaki International airport, a Shabari University for Women, a Hanuman Academy for warfare, a think Valmiki thinktank to study invasions on India and the resultant socio-political changes, Luv-Kush panoramic garden of Indian culture and history on Sarayu bank, with a Pakistani contribution too, the city must resonate with elements that define and sustain Bharat that is India.

Think about it. Liberhan reminds you of smallness. Ayodhya is universal.

http://timesofindia .indiatimes. com/articleshow/ msid-4741597, prtpage-1. cms

I am independent and relieved: Justice Liberhan

PTI
First Published : 30 Jun 2009 03:06:43 PM IST
Last Updated :

NEW DELHI: Justice (retd) M.S. Liberhan Monday said he was feeling independent and relieved after submitting the report of the Liberhan Commission that was formed 17 years ago to enquire into the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid.

“I didn’t have any pressure from anybody. We are relieved and independent today,” Liberhan told a TV news channel here.

Asked if he was afraid of his report being used for political considerations, Justice Liberhan said: “I am not afraid of anything. It is for the people of this country to take care of.”

The Liberhan Commission probing the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, submitted its report Monday to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday.

Liberhan, who headed the panel, submitted the report in the presence of Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

However, the contents of the report were not known.

The Liberhan Commission got 48 extensions after it was set up within 10 days of the demolition of the 16th century mosque in Ayodhya Dec 6, 1992, by Hindu zealots. The incident triggered widespread communal riots in the country and led to the loss of many lives.

The panel. set up to investigate what led to the demolition of the Babri mosque, was to submit its report by March 16, 1993. But it sought repeated extensions to complete its investigation. The last three-month extension was given in March this year.

The commission has recorded the statements of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, then chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Kalyan Singh and Bharati Jan Shakti party chief Uma Bharati.

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BJP ELATED AT RAM TEMPLE ISSUE’S REVIVAL

From Our Delhi Bureau

NEW DELHI: The Bhartiya Janata Party is least rattled and rather elated over the Justice Liberhan Commission submit its report on Tuesday to the Prime Minister on the Babri Mosque demolition at Ayodhya in 1992 after 17 years of the probe, perhaps the longest ever by a commission in independent India.

A hurried meeting of senior party leaders held at Lok Sabha Opposition leader Lal Krishna Advani, who may have been indicted as he was present at the site at the time of the demolition, felt the report will revive the Ram Mandir issue that they were unable to keep upfront despite stress on it in the BJP poll manifesto.

“Since after the poll fiasco, the party has been searching for some issue that can rejuvenate it and enthuse the demoralised party workers and hence the Liberhan report is God-sent for us,” a senior leader said after the meeting even as BJP President Rajnath Singh walked away, stating that he can react only after contents of the report are disclosed.

The BJP reaction was not different from what Advani stated back in 2005 that the Ayodhya demolition case hearing in the special CBI court, Rae Bareli, will only revive the Ayodhya movement. Or, rather it is exact repetition of what he said on July 28, 2005.

“Case se Ayodhya andolan jeevant ho chuka hai…Purani yadein taaza hongi (Ayodhya movement has been revived due to the case…Old memories will be refreshed),” Advani had said in Lucknow while proceeding to Rae Bareli on the court’s summons to appear before it.

He had also said then that “it is a matter associated with the faith and belief of crores of Hindus,” and party spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday affirmed the same when he said the BJP seeks to state the wish of crores of Hindus in India and abroad for a perceptive solution of the issue by constructing a grand temple of Lord Ram at Ayodhya.

REPORT WITH ATR: Justice M S Liberhan, a retired Supreme Court judge, handed over the report of the Commission of Inquiry on the last day of its extended term to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in the presence of Home Minister P Chidambaram.

The report, in four volumes with an extensive set of annexures, will now be further processed by the Home Ministry, a 3-line official announcement said. Chidambaram refused to comment saying he was yet to read the report, but a top source in the PMO said the report, along with the government’s Action Taken Report (ATR), will be tabled in Parliament.

Justice Liberhan said he has named certain persons in the report but refused to reveal their names. Senior BJP leaders like Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Vinay Katiyar present at the time of the demolition of the mosque on December 6, 1992 may have been indicted in the report.

That, however, does not disturb the BJP as its leaders felt release of the report with their names can be used to project their victimisation for championing the Hindutva cause and help the party revive the urgency for construction of the Ram Mandir at the demolition site.

Their confidence also stems from the fact that the commission’s findings may be used politically against the BJP but they have no legal use as evidences before it cannot be used in any court of law.

RELEASE REPORT: “Certainly the nation wants to know contents of the report that has spurred headlines be table in Parliament,” BJP spokesman Prasad told a Press conference at the party headquarters here, within hours of the Congress making the same demand. The report should be, however, disclosed “in a lawful manner,” he said.

He said the Congress may try to make capital out of the report to use it in the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra, but that will only consolidate those desiring construction of the Ram Temple at the earliest.

Reaffirming the BJP’s commitment to a Ram temple in Ayodhya, Prasad condemned the Congress for blaming its senior leaders without yet knowing the contents of the report.

“There must be a constructive solution to the whole issue as Hindus across the globe want a grand temple be constructed at the disputed site. The BJP also wishes that a temple is constructed there,” Prasad said.

DIGGY FLAYED: He said contents of the report are not yet out and hence the party reserves its formal comment only after it is presented to Parliament. He flayed Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh for his “utter irresponsible reaction” on the commission’s findings even before they are made public. He said this only shows that the Congress has started the conspiracy of defaming the BJP leaders.

Digvijay Singh claimed within minutes of the one-member commission submitting the report to the PM that it indicts the BJP leaders Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Vijay Katiyar and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal.

“They were all present at the time of demolition. They were all rejoicing and shouted slogans ‘Ek Dhakka Aur Do,’” he said, adding that they displayed doublespeak by denying responsibility for the demolition of the historic 16th century mosque.

BACKGROUND: The inquiry commission was set up by the P V Narasimha Rao Government at the Centre on December 16, 1992 to give its report within three months on a 4-point terms of reference which covered demolition of the Babri Mosque on December 6 that year and riots in Ayodhya. The exact term used for the probe was “the Ram Janambhoomi – Babri Masjid incident.”

Other issues before the commission were: Security lapses, assault on journalists, as also role played by then Chief Minister Kalyan Singh (now SP-supported independent MP), his council of ministers, officials of UP Government, individuals, organisations and agencies.

Its term was, however, extended again and again by various governments, including the BJP-led NDA government, as its probe continued with slow pace. Justice Liberhan was quite frank to point out on Tuesday that the delay in early completion of the report was caused due to a court stay and non-cooperation of the witnesses.

Among those who deposed before the commission included late Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Mualayam Singh Yadav and Kalyan Singh as also then Faizabad district magistrate R N Srivastava and SSP D B Roy.

OFFICIAL CONG STAND: Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi stated the official Congress stand, stating that “the report is very important and its content should to be released to the public domain as the Government processes because it was a traumatic event for the country and people have a right to know its content.”

Highlighting its political importance, he said: “It is a matter of concern for us and the bar of responsibility is much higher because people who claim to be public figures and seek public support are involved in the matter.”

“If there are findings in the report, then the UPA Government will be entitled to take legal actions against the accused but as the report is yet not in the public domain I am talking on assumptions,” Singhvi emphasised.

He said that it is very unfortunate that the Commission took 17 years to prepare the report but added that what matters now is that the report has been submitted.

Courtesy: R Rajagopalan

In Ayodhya what is the business of army officers of Islamic countries?

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Asks VHP president Shri Ashok Singhal

Allahabad, Feb. 5: I have received information from Ayodhya today that some Army and Air Force officers belonging to various countries visited the Ramjanmabhoomi at about 4.00 pm for inspection. The names, which I came to know, included Shri Suhail Abbas (Brigadier of Bangladesh Army), Mohammed Ibrahim (Afghanistan), Mohd. Abdul Wasim (Mangolia) and T.K. Pillai (Australia). They included three Air Force officers and six brigadier rank army officers. The names of the officers from Indonesia and Malaysia could not be known. Shri Ashok Kumar Gupt, Joint Secretary, Government of India, and Shri R.P. Shishodia took them there. The information that I have received so far is that these persons had gone there to study a national issue of India. The issue of Shri Ramjanmabhoomi is purely of Hindus. Does the Sonia Government wish to make it an international issue? Such apprehensions have developed in the mind of the saints of Ayodhya. It is an attack on the sovereignty and integrity of India. The Sonia government has already denied the historicity of Shri Ram. They believe when Shri Ram does not exist how could there be the existence of Ram Sehtu? They also said that the war between Shri Ram and Ravana never took place. While questioning the historicity of Shri Ram, their intention regarding Ayodhya was also clear. They do not accept the existence of Shri Ramjanmabhoomi too. Calling the army officers of Islamic nations is an interference in the internal affairs and security of India. The incident would also have an adverse effect on the case going on in Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad strongly condemns this attitude of the government and demands it to answer the Hindus why it committed such a mischief? I also appeal to the Members of Parliament of the country to get it investigated thoroughly.