The Congress' official line on the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya case has undergone a subtle change since September 30.
Last Thursday, party media chairperson Janardan Dwivedi, in the immediate aftermath of the announcement of the judgment, urged all citizens to accept the verdict of the court wholeheartedly, as the courts were the most “unbiased” institutions in the country. Four days later, on Monday, party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan described the verdict as merely “part of the judicial process, which will culminate in the Supreme Court.”
In response to a question on whether the High Court judgment had in a way quashed the case against those who had demolished the Babri Masjid, Mr. Dwivedi said last Thursday, “I don't wish to give a value judgment on that judgment.” On Monday, Ms. Natarajan was extremely clear: “The Allahabad High Court does not condone the demolition of the Babri Masjid.”
Party sources told The Hindu that the nuanced change in the party's official line is the result of growing disquiet in the party that the Muslims have not taken the verdict well, and that it needs to swiftly reposition its line on the judgment or else, it stands to lose the minority vote it was trying so hard to win back, especially in the Hindi heartland. It is also, inadvertently, these sources stressed, giving its arch rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party, an opportunity to whip up an old theme. The party's first response, apparently taken at the highest level, according to party sources, was that the court's ruling to divide the disputed land threeway would please all the parties. That, apparently, has not happened, according to the feedback the party has been getting from the ground.
Last Thursday, Mr. Dwivedi said: “The Congress has been saying from the very start that if this matter cannot be sorted out through mutual consultations, then everyone should accept whatever the court rules, as they are the most unbiased institutions in a democracy. In general, everyone has welcomed it (court verdict). If anyone has any objections, the Supreme Court's doors are open for them.” He then paused and added, “But I wish to repeat one thing — I urge all citizens to place their faith and trust in the court, and accept the verdict wholeheartedly.”
Clearly, on Monday, the party was endorsing the line that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had already taken in his appeal last Thursday, when he had said, “The correct conclusion, at this stage, is that the status quo will be maintained until the cases are taken up by the Supreme Court.”
It was learnt that the Congress's Steering Committee (that is the members of the just dissolved Congress Working Committee) will meet on Tuesday to discuss the upcoming plenary session of the party as well as the “current political situation” – in short, the impact of the Ayodhya verdict and Kashmir could come up for discussion, as the Steering Committee has an open agenda.
