’Babri Masjid protected Lord Ram’

Head priest of Ram Janmabhoomi, Satyendra Das, says BJP used Lord Ram for politics

'Babri Masjid protected Lord Ram'

Head priest of Ram Janmabhoomi says razing of mosque 16 years ago has exposed lord's idol to sun and rain. He hits out at Hindutva hardliners in an explosive interview to MiD DAY.

HE is a disillusioned man. Much heat and dust has settled around him over the years, and now the bitter head priest of Ram Janmabhoomi, Satyendra Das, strikes at the very heart of the ideology that sought to correct a presumed historical mistake.

FROM the frontline of Hindu consciousness comes perhaps the deadliest attack on hardline Hindutva so far.

The words, their arrowheads shining with irony, are of the head priest of Ram Janmabhoomi, Satyendra Das.

"Demolition of the Babri Masjid was unfortunate... it was like a mandir only [sic]. It protected Ram Lalla and pujas were organised regularly," he told MiD DAY late last week. "After they destroyed the Babri Masjid, Ram Lalla stands unprotected from storm and rain, heat and dust. They said they'd build a mandir, but their intention was to grab power."

Hindutva leaders, of course, responded with outrage. "Who is Satyendra Das to say all this? The world knows the contribution of the BJP in bringing the issue to the fore," said BJP National Spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Prakash Sharma, national convener, Bajrang Dal, was more scathing. "He should convert to Islam if he feels bad about the demolition," he said.

L K Advani, whom the priest called "a liar", could not be contacted despite repeated calls to his office.u00a0

'ADVANI IS A LIAR'

Head priest of Ram Janmabhoomi, Satyendra Das, says BJP used Lord Ram for politics
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The BJP manifesto talks about building the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Do you think the party is committed to the issue?
It's not in the hands of any political party to build a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The matter is in court. Till it takes a decision, it is not for a political party or a government to decide whether there should be a temple or a masjid there. If any political party, be it the BJP or any other outfit, talks about building a mandir at this place, it is simply trying to fool the people.
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But BJP took up the issue of Ram Janmabhoomi.
Yes, the BJP used the issue to come to power. But once in power, they conveniently forgot about it. Their leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi even said the BJP was not a factory that produced mandirs and masjids. They have brought up the issue again during elections. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister, he said he was talking to representatives from both sides to find a solution. But nothing happened.
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Are you saying Advani is not serious about Ram Janmabhoomi?u00a0u00a0u00a0
L K Advani is lying. He's been lying since the time he was the home minister. When our representative went to him for a solution, he said he would not sacrifice his government for Ram Janmabhoomi. Now, he is saying he is serious about the issue. All he is bothered about is coming to power.
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But Babri Masjid was demolished so that Ram Mandir could be built.
The demolition of the Babri Masjid was an unfortunate incident. It was like a mandir only [sic]. It protected Ram Lalla and pujas were regularly organised there. Thousands of devotees thronged the place. After they destroyed the masjid, Ram Lalla stands unprotected in storm and rain. There's only a makeshift structure. They said they would build a mandir; their intention was to grab power. Earlier, nobody had a problem with the fact that pujas were held inside the masjid, nobody protested. But all problems started after the Babri Masjid was demolished.

Local Muslims never had a problem with pujas being held inside the Babri Masjid?
Nobody had any problem. They even used to say that let us all sit together and find a solution to the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid issue. It was only when the BJP and the Bajrang Dal came and started the Ram Janmabhoomi movement that relations soured between the two communities. There was bloodshed, mandirs were destroyed. Now everything is normal again. It is not an issue in Ayodhya, never was. Hindus and Muslims have always lived in peace in Ayodhya. The BJP's lust for power created all the problems.u00a0
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What's the current status of the mandir?
It's a makeshift structure. The commissioner of Faizabad is the receiver. All offerings to Ram Lalla are deposited in a bank account. The maintenance money comes from there. I have four assistants to help me. Their salaries also come from the offerings.
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Would you say there is a difference between Hindutva and Hinduism?
Hinduism stands for peace and harmony. It believes in tolerance towards all, acceptance of all religions. Read the Ramayana and the Gita, Hinduism is not an exclusionist religion. Whoever talks about hate and intolerance is not a Hindu.

Isn't the VHP angry with you, considering your views are so different from theirs?
I am a pujari, I have no problems with anyone. It's my duty to take care of Ram Lalla. But when I see Ram Lalla being ignored, I speak my mind. That apart, I don't have any issues with anyone, be it the BJP or the VHP.
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What kind of support does the VHP have in Ayodhya?
Except for four-five priests, no one has joined the VHP. Those who join do so for material gains, nothing else.
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Finally, how do you think the issue will be resolved?
The court will decide, not any political party. That's the u00a0only way.

2,000
The number of people killed in the riots following the Babri Masjid demolition.

Demolition of Babri Masjid
December 6, 1992: The mosque was destroyed by kar sevaks during a planned ceremony, despite a commitment to the Supreme Court that the mosque would not be harmed.

December 16, 1992: The Liberhan Commission was set up by the Government of India to probe the circumstances that led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid. It has been the longest running commission in India's history with several extensions granted by various governments.