The Hindu : National : Religious prestige, political clout

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004

National

National

Religious prestige, political clout

By Suresh Nambath

CHENNAI, NOV. 12. The Kanchi Sankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswathi, wielded influence that went beyond his status as the head of a math: not only did he command the devotion of top politicians of the country, he also projected himself as a representative of Hindus during a crucial stage of the negotiations to resolve the Ayodhya dispute.

During 2001-2003, the Sankaracharya used his religious prestige and his political clout with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government at the Centre and Hindutva organisations across the country to try and broker an agreement between the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board.

In March 2002, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi obtained a written assurance from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad that it would abide by the court verdict on the Ayodhya issue on the condition that a `bhoomi puja' would be allowed at the disputed site. Although this was considered a "breakthrough" at the time, the VHP later went back on the assurance.

The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, for its part, found the Sankaracharya's formula "incomplete and inchoate," but agreed to consider fresh proposals.

Another attempt was made in 2003 with the Acharya first asking the AIMPLB to consider giving a `no objection' statement to construction on the "undisputed" land.

But, when the board asked for clarifications, the Acharya, after a meeting with the VHP leader, Ashok Singhal, made two concrete demands: donating the Babri Masjid site, and giving up the mosques of Kashi and Mathura in the interests of communal harmony.

Importantly, the second letter, which the AIMPLB considered a veiled threat, came after the VHP leaders sought to clarify with the Acharya whether he was giving up claims on Kashi and Mathura in return for an agreement on the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

Both these initiatives, in the end, appeared as thinly disguised attempts to get around the Supreme Court's ban on any sort of activity at the disputed site and the undisputed areas around it.

But thanks to his influence in the corridors of power during the period — the BJP-led Government was ruling at the Centre — and the respect he had among Hindutva organisations, these efforts obtained considerable legitimacy.

The political influence of the Acharya was visible in Tamil Nadu thanks to his proximity to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa. Indeed, BJP leaders, especially Murli Manohar Joshi, often used him as a mediator in alliance talks.

The Acharya often provided open political support to the AIADMK. Not surprisingly, he was seen as powerful in party and official circles.

But as the murder charges against him began to be exploited by the Opposition parties, he became politically inconvenient for the AIADMK Government.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National