The Centre’s letter of submission to the supreme court on the undisputed land to be freed from the litigation of the case to pave the way for Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas to build a magnificent Ram Temple in Ayodhya is a welcome step. Editorial after editorial in the mainstream print media have presented a bleak picture on the move stating that it would rob away the premise on which this government stands: ‘sab ka sath, sab ka vikas’ and would not benefit the party electorally. It’s strange on what ground they are drawing those conclusions.
Every political party has a chunk of core-dedicated voters. They cling to that party through thick and thin as they believe that their aspirations can get fulfilled through that party coming to power. Strong emotional issues like Ramjanmabhoomi are forever-evergreen in their memory. Election after election, the core voters of BJP have been waiting for the party to bring their surreal Ayodhya temple dream to reality. In this full-majority government of BJP, if their dream is not realised, when? is their question. Whether the issue is in the court or out of court they don’t bother much. Nitty-gritty of the issue is not their(people’s) botheration. For them, it’s the responsibility of the party that promised.
For BJP, going on development-agenda to elections is the correct choice. However, honouring the age- old commitment to Ayodhya temple is equally important. Whether the temple issue brings votes for the party or not is beside the point. If the decision of the government (by asking the court to allow for construction of the temple in the undisputed area) gets votes (by way of approval from people) it’s good. The party could win more seats in the Hindi heartland. Even otherwise, in the worst case scenario of losing, it (the party) would have the satisfaction of living up to the expectations of its core- constituency. The party can also take the moral high ground that it delivers on what it promises. So, both ways the decision is beneficial for the party’s survival and existence. For, in any case, betraying the core-voters of their trust is dangerous.
Political parties need to protect their core-ideological base. Donald Trump, the president of US, has been trying his best to keep his poll-promises of anti-immigration, building wall- barrier with Mexico in the Mexican border, ‘America first’-policy and declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel to please the evangelical groups. The president did all to please his core-voters. Forgetting the dedicated voters after attaining power by becoming more centrist to appeal to Lutyens Delhi doesn’t augur well for an ideological party.
Now the ball is in the supreme court. It’s for the court to decide. It is clear that liberal democratic courts and governments do not go by the faith/ religious sentiments of the majorities. It is evident by the way the supreme court accepted/entertained the plea against Sanskrit prayers in Kendriya Vidyalayas and referred to 5-judge bench. The slokas ‘Asato ma sadgamaya’ and ‘Om saha navavatu’ though shantivakyas (invocations of peace and brotherhood) from Upanishads have a universal appeal with no Hindu religious connotation (to gods). Sanskrit language and the inherent wisdom of slokas in it are a part of Bharat’s culture. The liberal-secular Constitution and laws should ensure that they be made part of their(school students) prayers. They should see to the benefit of the future generations by learning those slokas which have immense wisdom latently hidden, which they can make use of later in their life to their and country’s progress.
Now, one is inquisitive to see how these two cases (Ayodhya Ram-Temple and Sanskrit prayers in KVs) are decided by the apex court. For, the future of India depends much on the court’s verdict.
