Muslims are wondering over the silence of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and the reluctance of UP chief minister Mayawati to visit Ayodhya before the judgment of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title suit to be pronounced on September 24. “It is surprising that Mulayam Singhji is maintaining silence,” says M. Ahmed, a small trader at Ayodhya.
Muslims here appear to be disillusioned about Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav whose government in Uttar Pradesh had protected the Babri Masjid from karsevaks in the past and had even fired at them.
Muslims in Ayodhya feel the Samajwadi Party chief is playing vote bank politics and thereby diluting ideological conviction.
Ms Mayawati is keeping a close vigil in Ayodhya, deploying police forces there ensuring that the law and order situation here should be maintained irrespective of the high court’s judgment. Muslims, by and large, have no complaint against her but they are unsure how will she handle the post September 24 situation. “No, she does not believe in making a formal appeal of peace or calling meetings of Hindu-Muslim. This is not her style of functioning,” viewed a local resident. But can she be tough with the upper castes, who had voted for her in the last Assembly election or would she consolidate her support base among Muslims and dalits, speculate people.
This is because Ms Mayawati did not arrest one-time poster boy of Hindutva Kalyan Singh when he visited Ayodhya along with supporters last week.
Mr Singh is determined to go ahead with this issue after realising that the caste card has its own limitations in the state. The BJP is downplaying the issue saying that this is a legal battle and should be fought in the courts. It fears that re-identifying with the issue could isolate the party further in the era of coalition politics.
The BJP is trying to check the UPA under the NDA banner. This issue would not only embarrass the JD(U) in the middle of the electoral battle in Bihar but could create problems for the prospective allies in other states. But the Sangh Privar is free to raise this issue asking whether courts can decide the matters of faith.
Dr Ram Vilas Vedanti, a former BJP MP and the official of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and Mandir Nirman Ucchadhhikar Samiti, is confident that no court in India can give a judgment against the Ram Mandir.
He fears that anti-social elements, especially outside forces, could be “active” after September 24 in Ayodhya and across the country.
People in Ayodhya have realised that they have no say in this matter as it has become a national and international issue.
The second phase of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid controversy could begin after September 24 after the December 6, 1992 demolition.