Cong: Bjp To Change Ayodhya Stand
Seizing on the Ayodhya issue to put the BJP-led government on the backfoot, the Congress yesterday wondered if Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, by promising to obey court orders, had signalled a shift in the BJP's stand on the sensitive issue.
The stand of the `sangh parivar' has been that matters of faith like the birthplace of Lord Ram cannot be decided by the judiciary.
The Congress, however, hoped that the BJP would not take advantage of the "difference of opinion among us (the opposition parties)". But, while expressing doubts about the BJP leaders' ability to obey court orders, it also hoped that since the government was being headed by a person of the stature of Vajpayee, his commitment would not be violated.
Congress spokesman Salman Khursheed recalled that Vajpayee had made an irrevocable commitment in Parliament that the government would abide by court orders, but wondered if it was a genuine commitment or one meant to assuage the fears of the BJP's allies in the government. Allies like the Samata Party, Trinamool Congress do not accept the BJP's stand on Ayodhya.
"The people are entitled to know if the Prime Minister has consciously and irrevocably accepted this position (obeying court orders) or whether this is only a convenient strategy to stay in power. Even as he speaks of court orders being final, provocative statements by other members of the sangh parivar indicate scant respect for his views or the wishes of the courts," Khursheed said.
The Congress had reportedly decided to move an adjournment motion on the Ayodhya issue, but the move was stymied after Vajpayee replied to a letter by party chief Sonia Gandhi on the issue, and also the government's statements in both houses of Parliament. In a statement, Khursheed, however, denied such a move was decided in the first place.
He also sought to correct Vajpayee on his statement that the Ayodhya issue was in the Supreme Court and that its judgement would be respected. He said the apex court had disposed of the matter on October 24, 1994 itself. Thereafter, the matter was before a special bench of the Allahabad High Court, which has been hearing all trial suits and writ petitions in a consolidated manner.
"That the Prime Minister should have made an inaccurate statement on an extremely delicate subject is itself a matter of some concern...(This) is no ordinary litigation, and past experience of the courts has been very bitter. There are clear indications of preparations for a fait accompli to be presented at a critical moment," Khursheed said.