Ram Mandir inauguration: Revisiting Mulayam Singh’s actions 34 years ago

Ram Mandir inauguration: Former Samajwadi Party chief and ex-Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. (File photo)

Mulayam Singh Yadav assumed the role of chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1989 for the first time against the backdrop of a politically charged atmosphere. Chandra Shekhar's minority government held power at the Centre during this period, creating a delicate political landscape. Approximately 100 kilometers away from the state capital Lucknow, the city of Ayodhya was engulfed in tension. Various organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Bajrang Dal, had declared plans for kar seva (voluntary service) at the disputed site in Ayodhya on October 30. These developments marked a critical juncture in the events leading up to the Ayodhya dispute.

In flashback ...

The Ayodhya turmoil has deep historical roots, with a significant turning point in 1987, when a Faizabad court ordered the unlocking of the disputed site. The ruling allowed Hindus to resume worship at the contested location, fuelling demands for the construction of a Ram temple by organisations such as the VHP. The court's decision heightened tensions and set the stage for the protracted and contentious Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute, with intensified calls for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

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In 1989, the 'shilanyas' ceremony at the disputed Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi site took place with the blessings of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The ceremony was conducted after then home minister Buta Singh granted late VHP leader Ashok Singhal permission to lay the foundation stone. As communal tensions rose, the Centre urged the VHP to conduct the ceremony outside the disputed site, but the VHP defied the government's request.

However, the move took an unexpected turn, transforming the issue into a major political controversy. The then president of the BJP, Lal Krishna Advani, along with affiliated organisations such as the VHP and Bajrang Dal, accused the Congress of following an appeasement policy and announced a kar seva in Ayodhya on October 30, 1990.

LK Advani's rath yatra

The announcement of kar seva in Ayodhya and the rath yatra led by Advani raised concerns for Uttar Pradesh CM Yadav and then Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. In Bihar, Lalu Prasad's government arrested Advani as his chariot reached Samastipur, preventing him from reaching Ayodhya on the day of kar seva. This move by Lalu saw him gain significant popularity, especially among the Muslim community.

The rath yatra unrest 

The arrest of Advani and the heightened tension surrounding the Rath Yatra culminated in an enraged gathering of kar sevaks (volunteers) on October 30, 1990. Thousands of kar sevaks advanced towards the disputed structure, dismantling the barbed wire barriers and chanting Jai Shri Ram. With law enforcement facing difficulties in controlling the surging crowd, they resorted to lathi charges. When these measures proved ineffective, the authorities opened fire, killing five Kar Sevaks.

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Bullets fired again on 2nd November

Following the firing incident on October 30, tensions escalated, and the political climate became even more heated. Three days later, on November 2, 1990, Kar Sevaks once again marched towards the disputed structure. This time, leaders such as Uma Bharti, Ashok Singhal, and Swami Vamdevi were at the forefront, leading thousands of Kar Sevaks in different directions toward the disputed site.

Policemen with guns were deployed on the houses surrounding the structure. They were announcing through loudspeaker that no one was allowed to go towards the Babri Masjid, but the kar sevaks continued to move forward. When the police felt that it was difficult to stop the crowd, they opened fire again.

Conflicting reports on kar sevaks' casualties

The firing on November 2 resulted in the deaths of around 18 kar sevaks, according to government data. However, the VHP claimed that the number of Kar Sevaks who lost their lives was much higher, with estimates exceeding 100. Among those who died in the firing were the Kothari brothers, who later became symbols of the temple movement. Their images were prominently displayed in various programmes associated with the movement.

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Fury against Mulayam 

Jagatguru Shankaracharya Vasudevanand Saraswati, who served as the chairman of the Kar Seva Samiti at that time, expressed surprise at the level of strictness displayed by the government. The firing led to widespread anger against Mulayam Singh Yadav and the chief minister faced a political backlash. Later, in the assembly elections, his party suffered a huge defeat.

Mulayam's regret

In later years, Mulayam expressed regret for ordering the firing on the Karsevaks. In an interview, he admitted that it was a mistake to use force against the Karsevaks. Despite his acknowledgment of the mistake, a section of people continued to harbour anger towards him for the events that transpired in Ayodhya during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Kar seva of December 6, 1992

On December 6, 1992, during the tenure of Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, a significant event unfolded in Ayodhya. A large crowd of Kar Sevaks gathered at the disputed Babri Masjid, removed the barbed wires, and entered the premises. Some Kar Sevaks climbed the dome and, by the afternoon, had demolished all three domes of the Babri Masjid. This incident marked a turning point in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute, leading to widespread protests and communal tensions across the country.

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Landmark SC verdict paves the way

The long-running Ayodhya dispute ultimately reached the Supreme Court. After extensive legal proceedings, the court delivered a historic verdict in 2019, favouring the Hindu claimants. This landmark decision marked the green light for the construction of the Ram temple. Following this, a trust was established to supervise the project, and the construction of a temple dedicated to Shri Ram, featuring the Nagar architectural style, is currently nearing culmination. The Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the new idol of Ram Lalla at the sanctum sanctorum of the upcoming Ram Temple in Ayodhya is scheduled for January 22.