After days of stress, speculation and anticipation of violent reaction, the verdict of the Allahahabad High Court on Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi/Babri Masjid issue finally gives millions of Indians a chance to breathe easy.
The verdict, though not really crystal clear, is in favour of maintaining the status quo. In layman’s words, a piece of the temple/mosque land goes to Sunni Wakf board(read Muslims), a part to Nirmohi akhara (a school of radical Hindu godmen) while the 3rd – where there is a shrine of Ram – stays as and how it is. Not only this means no single party was declared a winner of the case, but also there is hardly a chance to call any party a loser as well.
Now, discussions are already on about how the whole verdict is unclear and needs further clarification, explanation etc. TV channels are competing against each other in finding a single voice of dissent and who would be challenging the verdict. However, one thing is clear: There won’t be any riots in India this time.
In offices, universities, coffee shops and social media forums, the verdict is being talked about in various interesting manners. Jokes are already making rounds ‘Why is it a dryday(no alcohol) in India today? Answer -The court verdict gave no reason for people to drown their sorrows in alcohol".
With the Commonwealth Games around the corner (starts on 3rd Oct), some are circulating messages like – ‘the government should send the troops deployed in Ayodhya to Delhi, to clean up the games village’. The Commonwealth Games, even before it started, has grabbed headlines about widespread corruption and embezzlement of fund. As a result, the infrastructure is poor and sports teams are, instead of practicing, spending time cleaning their rooms. The suggestion of the troops in Ayodhya – deployed to check a possible riot, be sent to Delhi, is taking a dig at the games’s poor management.
At work places people left for home with the parting line "My home won’t be burnt down tonight. So, see you tomorrow."
The most interesting thing happened in the state of Gujarat though. Narendra Modi – the right wing chief minister and widely seen as the man who sponsored one of India’s most devastating communal riots in 2002 that claimed hundreds of lives, was seen talking to media – "There is no room for madness.I accept the court verdict and appeal to everyone to accept it too. Let me repeat, there is no point in being mad or militant".
If only Modi had said this a few years ago!
Leave Your Comments