The Rajya Sabha saw pandemonium and adjournment on the last day of the Winter Session after the Congress, BSP and JD(U) raised the Ayodhya temple issue, accusing the BJP and RSS of trying to divide Ut
The Rajya Sabha saw pandemonium and adjournment on the last day of the Winter Session after the Congress, BSP and JD(U) raised the Ayodhya temple issue, accusing the BJP and RSS of trying to divide Uttar Pradesh along communal lines ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections. This charge was, however, rejected by the ruling party.
K.C. Tyagi (JD-U) raised the issue in Zero Hour, saying the circumstances for a communally-charged atmosphere were being created ahead of Assembly elections in UP. Opposition members voiced concern over reports of two truckloads of stones for construction of the temple having arrived in Ayodhya earlier this week.
Such activities are being planned “only to charge up the atmosphere”, he said, quoting Mahant Nritya Gopal Das’ statement that there was a “signal” from the Narendra Modi government that the temple will be built “now”.
But MoS parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the stone carving for construction of the temple was on at a site 1.5 km away from the disputed site since 1990. Both the government and the BJP felt the court’s decision on the dispute should be accepted, he said. There was no ban on the carving of stones, he said, noting stone carving doesn’t mean the temple was being built. “Please wait for court decision. All of us should respect it,” he said.
Outside Parliament, BSP chief Mayawati told reporters that “this has been the agenda of the BJP and RSS for a long time. But the Government of India should apply brakes on such people”. She also hit out at arch-rival Samajwadi Party in UP, saying if the Supreme Court order to maintain the status quo on the site is violated, the “SP will be responsible as the ruling party”.
The former CM said it was the SP’s responsibility to ensure that Supreme Court directions were not violated. “In such a scenario, nothing wrong should be allowed to take place,” she said.
Congress MP from UP Pramod Tiwari claimed that the BJP and its affiliates raked up such issues before every Assembly election, especially in UP. “Be it shila pujan or rathyatra, the BJP tries to draw a communal divide before every Assembly election, especially in Uttar Pradesh,” he said. JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said though the BJP tries to divide people on communal lines every time, “this time the people have understood their design”. He added: “They divide people on communal lines before elections. But this time the people understood their design. Like we did in Bihar, we will counter them in Uttar Pradesh.”
BJP MP from Gorakhpur Adityanath rejected the charge that the party was raking up the temple issue again. (He said stones were being carved in workshops of Ayodhya and Rajasthan since 1990.) “This is not the first time that stones have arrived in Ayodhya. Those who have not been to Ayodhya say such things,” he said.
He also blamed the Samajwadis for raking up the issue to “divert people’s attention from issues like corruption and scams during their rule”. Adityanath said: “The Supreme Court has rapped the state government over Lokayukta. There have been scams. It is a government of loot, murder and rape. Therefore, they are diverting the people’s attention.”
In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition members stormed into the Well shouting slogans like “UP Mein Dange Ki Saazish Band Karo” (Stop conspiracy to incite communal violence). Deputy chairman P.J. Kurien said there was no confusion after Mr Naqvi’s statement that the government and party will go by the court verdict. “Why do you disturb Zero Hour Why do you agitate The minister has made it clear the government will go by the court decision. It is unnecessary. Go back,” he told the agitating members, but no one heeded to his pleas, forcing him to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.
