A National, not communal, issue

 A National, not communal, issue

By Gopal K Agarwal,

A Ram temple at Ayodhya will restore national pride

The Ram Janambhoomi issue is not a religious but a political issue. The moment we consider it a religious matter, it becomes a conflict between Hindus and Muslims. Hindu philosophy talks of being universal, omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. It tells us that all forms of life are manifestations of the same divinity.

Babar was not a religious leader. He invaded India and enslaved us. The rulers took pride in calling themselves idol-busters (bud shikast). They forcibly converted the local population to their religion and destroyed monuments of our cultural heritage. Anything associated with them causes humiliation; it fills our heart with shame. This has nothing to do with Islam, any outsider doing the same would provoke similar feelings

Shri Ram was a person of high character, the mani- festation of great human values, an ideal raja who destroyed evil forces. Everything associated with him fills our heart with reverence. Ayodhya is historically and mythologically Ram's abode. In the past, in many countries, mosques have been shifted to different locations due to various reasons.

The majority of Indians identify themselves with Ram. When Ramayana was telecast on television, almost the whole country came to a virtual standstill during the airing of the episodes. But a small minority, due to ignorance, wants to be associated with Babar.

In a democracy, if there is a difference of opinion, the will of the majority will prevail. The will of the majority cannot be suppressed in the name of protecting the minority. The current propaganda has sidetracked us, we begin defending ourselves within the parameters defined by them. We don't need to prove ourselves as secular in their definition. Ignoring the national aspect of the issue and making it a religious matter, some people are trying to tarnish the RSS and allied organisations as communal.

Take any social field, and the RSS cadres have worked relentlessly there. The Vidya Bharti in education, Seva Bharti in social service, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh in labour, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh among farmers.

Vanavası Kalyan Ashram in tribal and remote areas, Vishwa Hindu Parishad among Hindus of the world, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, BJP, the list goes on. Almost forty na- tional organisations and hundreds of organisations at regional levels-all working to take our country to the pinnacle of glory.

Nobody is competent to teach Hindus universal brotherhood and equality of all religions. We revere Allah as we worship Ram. All religions coming to India were welcomed with an open heart. We want peace with honour.

The temple of Ram will be built at the janambhoomi. If this is done with consensus, very good. If it is done by legislation, it is not that good. And if it is done by force, it will be bad. We are not begging for a temple at Ayodhya. It is our right and we shall have it. India is a great nation and we shall have our pride restored.

(The writer is member, Central Economic Cell, BJP)