Sunday, October 18, 2020

Editorial, "HOW THE CHICKEN DISAPPEARED!?", in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 30 September 2020, Vol. 16, Part 2, No. 18 issue

HOW THE CHICKEN DISAPPEARED!?

All are Srivaishnavas, then how the chicken disappeared?” (అంతా శ్రీవైష్ణవులే, కోడిపిల్ల ఎలా మాయమైంది? – Srivaishnavas are supposed to be strict vegetarians) - so queries a Telugu axiom. That the disputed (Babri Masjid-Ramjanambhoomi) structure was openly demolished by hundreds of vandals posing as Kar Sevaks aided and abetted by thousands of fanatic colleagues and scores of BJP/RSS/ VHP Shiv Sena leaders on 6 December 1992 is a too well-known, generally admitted fact and Justice Liberhan Commission, one of the longest inquiry commissions in India, setting out the sequence of events in sufficient detail, remarked (in the introduction to its 2009 report) that “…this demolition of the disputed structure was one of the worse catastrophes for the nation, mankind, good governance, socialism and for a society governed by the rule of law. …a defacement of the country at the international fora, an act of violence against ……fundamental rights and against the concept of reasoned argument…….” The Commission had specifically pointed out 68 persons including Advani, Vajpayee, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, Bal Thackaray, V.P. Singhal, et al as culpable for this heinous act. Harsh observations were made by the Commission regarding the collusion, connivance, even abetment and aid by the then Kalyan Singh led BJP government in UP and the Masjid’s ultimate demolition also. However, though no such observations were made against the then Prime Minister, this editor asserts that then PM PV Narasimha Rao also aided and abetted this notorious enterprise by his calculated inaction. And, well, the less said of the failure and inaction of the judiciary the better. So, in that background, and in the context of the recent pervert decision of the Apex Court setting aside the wiser Allahabad High Court judgment and handing over the entire disputed structure plot to the same communal fanatics (now in government at the center also), it is no surprise that Sri SK Yadav, the CBI Court Judge, trying 32 accused – Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti et al for the demolition offences, chose it wise to acquit all of them. The communal fanatics may gleefully celebrate this occasion but it only portends the general fall of the nation – in terms of necessary morals, religious and ideological tolerance and basic respect to fundamental rights of citizens – and perhaps even the eventual ruin of the country a la Battle of Tallikota (which totally devastated the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire in 1565 AD) if any bitter struggles and wars ensue in future on this what may be termed a never-ending-sore-like-issue of the country. §§§