[Reader-list] Remembering Dr B.R.Ambedkar

[Rakesh Iyer]

Dear Rajen

The entire Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid controversy is a classic example of
how a bunch of people can completely derail the progress of a nation and
divert its' attention to issues which are irrelevant for the vast majority
of people, thereby leading to a complete wastage of energy and time on the
issue.

The masjid was never used for any prayers since a long time. Equally, the
concept that a mandir should be built because the masjid had been built on
the ruins of the mandir is shocking and dubious. If I were to tomorrow prove
it conclusively that the Indian Parliament was constructed on the ruins of a
masjid/mandir/church, would we demolish the Indian Parliament building and
get that religious building constructed? If I were to prove that your house
is now standing on a land where some religious building stood, would the
govt. have a right to destroy your house to get that building back again at
the same spot?

I disagree with this contention. The entire Sangh Parivar only used their
issue to enjoy electoral supremacy and this only started the chain of events
which led to the 1993 bomb blasts. Just as Advani and company made fools of
a section of Hindus, Tiger Memon and company made fools of a few Muslims.
Both of them escaped from the consequences of what they did, Advani by
virtue of nature of the Indian politics, and Tiger Memon by running away to
Pakistan.

The BJP and the Sangh Parivar are hypocrites in talking about nationalism,
when all they do is weaken the nation through their own actions. Howsoever
much I don't like Manmohan Singh (for his policies or lack of them), he was
right in assessing Advani (and this is apt for the entire Sangh Parivar) as
having the great ability to combine strength in speech with weakness in
action.

Rakesh