Published 16:26 IST, August 2nd 2019
Ayodhya case: A timeline of how those in favour of building Ram Mandir flip-flopped on their stand
In a massive setback to the Ayodhya land dispute on Friday August 2, CJI Ranjan Gogoi has declared that the Ayodhya mediation panel has failed. Here is how the right-wing flip flopped.
In a massive setback to the Ayodhya land dispute on Friday August 2, CJI Ranjan Gogoi has declared that the Ayodhya mediation panel has failed and that day-to-day hearings will start from August 6, as per sources.
How the right wing flip flopped on its stand on Ayodhya ?
The 16th-century Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992. With it came a long league of court case that has dragged the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmbhoomi case so far. As many as fourteen appeals are pending before the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict which ordered equal division of the 2.77-acre disputed land in Ayodhya among the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. Apart from flip flopping and having multiple views within, what is your one line stand of the right-wing on the matter of early resolution of the case is the question asked by all. Here is a timeline of how right-wing went on with its opinion on the case.
Out of court settlement, March 2017
In March 2017, when the Supreme Court ordered an “out-of-court settlement”, Subramanian Swamy welcomed it saying, “We were always ready. Mandir and Masjid should be built but Masjid should be built on other side of Sarayu river.” However, the Muslim outfits voiced scepticism.
Eight Months later, Opposed Mediation, November 2017:
VHP opposed the mediation with VHP spokesperson Sharad Sharma saying that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar did not contact any sant in Ayodhya. “His attempt faced opposition from both the Hindus and Muslims in Ayodhya. He did not contact any sant in Ayodhya after that visit,” Sharad Sharma, VHP spokesperson on Ayodhya, said on Friday.
Demanded Ordinance, December 2018:
RSS, VHP and other right-wing bodies held a mega rally raising pressure-building slogans such as “Vikas nahi, Mandir chahiye” on December 1, 2018. At the Janagraha programme organised by the VHP, the dignitaries and the Hindu workers demanded the Central government to bring in an ordinance to build the Ram Mandir. Speaking on the occasion, Vajradehi Mutt seer Rajashekarananda Swami said, “Ram Mandir should be constructed at the earliest. We should not rest till the Mandir is built.”
Central Govt wrote to Supreme Court, January 2019:
While the case was still pending before the SC, the Central Government in January 2019 had moved to the Supreme Court asking to modify the Supreme Court's orders in 2003 and 2011 of status quo on entire 67.7 acre land and return it to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and other owners the land.
Parties contradict stand on SC order, March 2019:
On 8 March 2019, the Hindu Mahasabha’s advocate Varun Kumar Sinha opposed the mediation saying, “Our past experience with mediation has not been good. I hope the apex court has taken this into consideration”.
Swami Chakrapani, president of the All Hindu Mahasabha welcomed the decision later saying, “We are glad that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is part of the mediation panel. I am sure that everything will go well”
Declared that Mandir will be constructed despite mediation, June 2019:
While the mediation was still underway on 15 June 2019, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said:“It will be constructed in Modi and Yogi’s leadership.On construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Mr.Raut said, “It will be constructed in Modi and Yogi’s leadership. The BJP will decide on it. The majority in 2019 is for construction of Ram temple. In Rajya Sabha too we will get majority by 2020.”
Demands law to build Ram Mandir, June 2019
While the mediation was still underway Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said, “If the matter is not resolved by the apex court or through talks, then we will bring a law” -- which is a far cry from the ‘let the courts decide’ days. Addressing a gathering of religious leaders in Ayodhya, Keshav Prasad Maurya said, "Every discussion in Ayodhya begins and ends with the demand of Ram Mandir construction. Earlier, the matter was getting delayed in the SC, but now it's being heard again. If the matter is not resolved by the apex court or through talks, then we will bring a law."
Day to day heraing demand, July 2019:
On 11 July 2019, the pro-Mandir parties are welcoming a day-to-day hearing by the Supreme Court with their lawyers saying, “ Definitely we wanted the Supreme Court to proceed in this manner and this is what all the parties wanted especially the Hindu parties”
Lawyer Vishnu Jain has said on 11 July 2019: "Definitely we wanted the Supreme Court to proceed in this manner and this is what all the parties wanted especially the Hindu parties because our stand has been very categorical, our stand has been very clear that in this matter mediation is not possible and that this matter can't be settled and therefore today Supreme Court taking notice of our applications, said kindly give a report by Thursday and the Supreme Court has also directed that in case the mediation can't be proceeded with, it can't be be gone ahead with then the court will hear the main matter as early as possible."
Mediation panel submits report
Earlier on July 31, the Ayodhya mediation panel was allowed to continue talks to reach consensus between Hindu and Muslim sides over the dispute of construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. After discussions, the panel has submitted the report and based on this report, the SC-bench is set to take up the matter on Friday.
Headed by Justice FM Kalifulla, senior advocate Sriram Panchu and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, if the mediation panel reaches consent on the Ayodhya dispute, then the mediator's decision may be passed by the top court as the court decree. However, if the members fail to reach a consensus on the matter, the court will be hearing the case continuously after the panel submits its final report. The hearings will continue to take place until unless a verdict is passed.
Mediation panel formed to solve dispute
The Supreme Court had on July 18 asked the mediation committee on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute to continue the process and submit a report on the progress made till July 31. A Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer observed that it will take a call on August 2 on whether a hearing is required in the case. The apex court had made the mediation panel for 8-week and Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad was set as the location where the mediation would be held. The eight-week deadline for the mediation talks completed on May 3.
Updated 16:26 IST, August 2nd 2019