The Hindu : BJP weighing its options

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 01, 2003

National

National

BJP weighing its options

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 31. The Bharatiya Janata Party did not officially react to the rejection of the Central Government's plea in the Ayodhya case by the Supreme Court today, treading a cautious path. But, ironically, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad "welcomed'' the development saying it would now be free to announce an action plan to get all the 67 acres of acquired land, including the disputed area on which the demolished Babri Masjid stood before December 6, 1992.

The RSS, which expressed its "disappointment" with the court verdict, suggested that the only way to resolve the issue now would be through legislation by Parliament.

The Union Law Minister, Arun Jaitley, was reported to have stated that the Government would naturally be obliged to ensure that status quo was maintained on the acquired land in accordance with today's judgment.

Although on record the BJP refused to comment, speaking privately and informally some BJP leaders suggested that there were several options for the Government — a revision petition or a review petition, or it could bring in an ordinance (to hand over the undisputed land to the VHP-controlled trust) ahead of legislation.

In fact, some party leaders feel that after the Assembly elections in four States later this year the BJP may make an assessment of the potential of Ram temple as a major election plank. If it feels the temple issue is the only way to get back some popularity, the BJP may try to bring forward legislation next year, and when it fails to push it through, its Government could resign and make that its main election platform. The ordinance route is seen as unlikely as it would amount to the Government defying a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court and the party is unlikely to be supported by the NDA allies who have welcomed the court's unambiguous verdict.

There is also the view that the Government may not like to file any kind of revision petition, contrary to what one senior BJP leader suggested today. It is known that the Centre's plea, which was rejected by the court today, was the result of intense pressure on the Government from the VHP via the RSS. The Government wanted the VHP to file the plea, which the VHP refused saying that it had always maintained that the issue was a "matter of faith" not a subject to be decided by the court. The VHP leader, Ashok Singhal, said today that it was now free to go for "direct action" without compromising its demand for all of the 67 acres of Ayodhya land acquired by the Government, including the disputed area, which is matter of the main title suit in the Allahabad High Court. He suggested that a favourable court verdict would have forced it to compromise, that is, accept only part of the undisputed land. The verdict, he said, had come as "Ram's blessing in disguise".

Another person, at one time actively associated with the VHP, said that a favourable court verdict would have put pressure on the VHP to actually begin construction, which would not have been possible. "Bhari bhari meri matki tooti, dahi bechan se main chooti (my earthen pot has been broken, I do not have to sell the curds)."

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