L K Advani, the architect of the political movement for Ram Temple, that catapulted the BJP into the national ... Read More

NEW DELHI: L K Advani, the architect of the political movement for Ram Temple, that catapulted the BJP into the national mainstream in the 1990s, on Saturday said he felt “vindicated and blessed” as he welcomed the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya land dispute that has paved the way for the construction of a Ram temple.

With the end of the “Mandir-Masjid dispute,” Advani in a written statement said, “the time has come to leave all contention and acrimony behind and embrace communal concord and peace.”

The Babri Mosque demolition on December 6, 1992 had created deep acrimony between the two communities and has since been a part of the political narrative in the country. Advani regretted the demolition of the mosque later, saying it was the “saddest day” in his life.

The BJP veteran, who took his party strength in Parliament from “2 to 200” riding the Ram Mandir wave in the 90s along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, welcomed the court’s decision to allot land for the mosque in Ayodhya.

“I also welcome the apex court’s decision that five acres of land be given at a prominent place for the building of a mosque in Ayodhya,” he said, adding, “Today’s judgment is the culmination of a long and contentious process that played itself out in various forums – both judicial and non-judicial – in the past many decades. Now that the prolonged Mandir-Masjid dispute in Ayodhya has come to an end, the time has come to leave all contention and acrimony behind and embrace communal concord and peace. Towards this end, I appeal to all sections of our diverse society to work together to strengthen India’s national unity and integrity.”

“I join all my countrymen in wholeheartedly welcoming the historic judgement … I stand vindicated, and feel deeply blessed, that the Supreme Court has given its unanimous verdict paving the way for the construction of a magnificent temple for Lord Ram at Ramjanmabhhomi in Ayodhya,” an overwhelmed Advani said.

He described the verdict as “a moment of fulfilment because God Almighty had given me an opportunity to make my own humble contribution to the mass movement, the biggest since India’s freedom movement, aimed at the outcome which the Supreme Court’s verdict today has made possible.”

He said: “I have always stressed that Ram and Ramayana occupy an esteemed place in India’s cultural and civilizational heritage and Ramjanmabhoomi holds a special and sacred place in the hearts of crores of our countrymen in India and abroad. Therefore, it is gratifying that their belief and sentiments have been respected.”

Advani appealed to turn this verdict into a new fulcrum for peace and harmony and said, “In the course of the Ramjanmabhoomi Movement, I had often stated that the true purpose of constructing a Ram Mandir at Ayodhya is to construct a magnificent Rashtra Mandir – building India as a strong, prosperous, peaceful and harmonious nation with justice for all and exclusion of none. Let us rededicate ourselves to that noble mission today.”

Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti met Advani at his residence on Saturday and hailed his role in the temple movement as she welcomed the court's order. She said she bowed her head to Advani following the verdict. She also praised late VHP leader Ashok Singhal for spearheading the movement. The former Union minister, a key figure in the saffron agitation, said Advani's devotion to the temple cause is at the root of BJP's success.

BJP veteran and Ram temple activist Murli Manohar Joshi, called the Supreme Court's judgment in the case “historic” and said it should be accepted with an “open mind” by all communities.

Former RSS ideologue K N Govindacharya expressed his “extreme happiness” at the verdict, saying the country can move from “Ram temple to Ram rajya”.

