A fast track court in Varanasi has directed the Archaeological Survey of India to submit by January 19 it’s survey report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex and also to provide a copy beforehand to the Hindu plaintiff in the original mandir-masjid title suit. The civil judge’s patently biased order came just a day before the district court is to take up ASI’s plea to postpone by four weeks the disclosure of the contents of it’s sealed survey report.
The ASI is also to survey two plots adjacent to the mosque besides the ritual ablution pond and the area beneath the central dome. It is very clear that the Centre is eager to secure a verdict in favour of the Hindu side so that it can milk it for votes in the forthcoming parliamentary polls; with a pliant judiciary it almost seems like a done deal. That the ASI itself is pleading for a postponement of the revelation of it’s findings makes it amply clear that it is very apprehensive about the fallout of the report which would in all probability be greatly contentious and lead to further cleaving of fault lines in society.
The civil judge’s alacrity in pronouncing judgement potentially reeks of partisanship and prejudice against the minority community. With more than 7 lakh major temples and countless minor ones why can’t we Hindus be large hearted and maintain status quo? Why do we seek our God’s in the prayer houses of other faiths? Matters might take an ugly turn akin to the Babri masjid event if the right wing outfits ratchet up tensions to score political gains.
