From the symbolism of LK Advani travelling to Somnath to making an open reference to the construction of a Ram Temple, the BJP, which had maintained a studied silence on the Ayodhya issue till now, on Friday signalled an intent to hark back to the spirit of the mandir movement of the 1990s.
On the other hand, the VHP and its array of sants raised the temperature by giving a call to ?Hindu society? to be ready for an agitation for construction of a temple. The VHP?although it pledged to wage a non-violent struggle in a democratic way?spoke in different voices. It wanted immediate pronouncement of the verdict and at the same time argued that courts cannot adjudicate on matters of faith and religion.
Breaking its self-imposed silence a day after the Supreme Court stayed pronouncement of the verdict by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court, the BJP said it was of the ?considered opinion that judicial delays over the last 61 years have contributed to the failure of the resolution of the issue of construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya.?
?We hope that the resolution of this issue is not delayed any further,? senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said. His one-line statement reaffirming the BJP?s commitment to construction of Ram Temple came after a meeting of the party?s top brass. Adding a symbolic tinge was Advani?s scheduled visit to Somnath tomorrow from where he began his rath yatra to Ayodhya the same day 20 years ago.
The VHP held a meeting of its high-powered body of religious leaders but the double speak was apparent. VHP leaders, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das of the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas and the other sants wanted the court to deliver its verdict as soon as possible but at the same time argued that ?Ram was above all courts? and the temple issue was an issue of ?faith, sentiment and devotion.?