Ayodhya: Most of them think that, the demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992 has altered the communal landscape of India drastically and changed the political scenario of the country. But there is a background to this incident which shaped the events which led to the demolition of the Grand structure, Babri Masjid.
These series of events include LK Advani taking Rathyatra provoking people to join in the construction of Ram temple at the disputed site, VHP recruiting Kar sevaks, and other political events which culminated into demolition of the masjid.
On November 2, 1990 thousands of crowd poured into Ayodhya defying prohibitory orders and curfew. In response to a call given by LK Advani and VHP, Karsevaks joined the movement for temple construction in front of the disputed structure. Some swam through Sarayu River, some walked through fields and others breached security during night.
This was the day when the destruction that wrought two years later on December 6, 1992 has changed India forever.
Mulayam Singh Yadav was the Chief Minister of UP at that time and he boastfully said that the security cordon was so tight that even a bird would not be able to get through. But what happened was contrary to his claim.
Security forces opened fire on Karsevaks, of which many clambered atop the main structure. They were shot and people on the top of the structure were tumbled down.
Before this event took place, Rajiv Gandhi had sensed the mounting anger among Hindus after his government subverted the Shah Bano judgement and banned Salman Rushdie’s ‘Satanic verses.’
Rajiv Gandhi, Sensing the disquiet among Hindus, had the locked doors of the disputed structure reopened.
Surprisingly, the Court decision which had not come for decades, happened overnight.
Subsequently, after failing to defend against the allegations of corruption in which Bofors was the major one, Rajiv Gandhi has lost elections and VP Singh became the Prime Minister. This was of short tenure which was bound to collapse.
Later PV Narasimha Rao became the Prime Minister of India whom most of them regard as the wise ruler. But had he acted wisely on that fateful day when the structure was collapsed, India would not have changed forever.