LOOKING BACK
DATELINE AYODHYA
An Online Reportage
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Kar
Sevaks demolishing Babri Masjid at Ayodhya
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Again cometh 6th
December - 6 years of it. Rising temperatures, an air of uncertainity, 'karsevaks'
'shilanyas' - those seemingly filthy words of Indian political jargon rendering the air
again. A dateline poignant with expectations and unexpectations. It has now become
fathomless to predict the outcome of the day for Indian People. And all this for some few
hours of madness, frenzy and uncivilisedness which led to butchering of secularism and
democracy of India. 6th December 1992.
Kalyan Singh, the infamous Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh is there again, and so are the
fear of disturbances. Already the VHP-Viswa Hindu Parishad and its allies have given call
for Karsevak Samman- Honouring of the Demolishers on that day. There are talks of again a
big gathering at the site. Time is again expectant....meantime let us look back into
history what happened on that fateful day, whcih has led to this sea change of Indian
Climates..
Ayodhya Incidents-At a Glance
1949, 22nd December-A group
of 50-60 persons broke the lock of the gate of Babri Masjid. At that time Pandit Nehru was
India's Prime Minister. But he took no step against the incident. It created a great stir
all over India'. U.P. Govt. relocked the disputed Masjid and two cases were filed in the
court.
1984-VHP started a 'Ram Janaki Yatra' from Sitamari,
Bihar, to construct the 'Mandir'. The 'Yatra' entered Delhi on 31st October.
1986-The Union Govt. led by Sri Rajib Gandhi gave consent to the then U.P. Govt. led
by Cong(I), to unlock the Masjid.
1989,14th Aug -The Lucknow
branch of Allahabad High Court directed the Govt. to maintain the status-quo. On 8th Nov.,
just before the Loksabha election, inspite of the injunction of the said Court, the
Uniongovt. allowed the V.H.P to lay the foundation stone of RamMandir'.
1990-B.J.P. leader L.
K. Advani stared 'Rathyatra'.
23rd October-U.P. Govt. led by Mulayem Singh, took
step against the Rathyatra. In Samastipur, Bihar the 'Rathaytra' was stopped by force by
Laloo Yadav and Advani was arrested.
30th Oct. -The proposed programme of karseva at
the disputed site of Ajodhya, failed.
7th Nov.-V P Sing Govt. took firm steps. The
Govt. toppled as B.J.P withdrew their support and Cong(I) declined to extened their
support to the Govt.
6th Dec.--The then Prime Minister Chandrasekhar
allowed the 'Karsevaks' to 'Satyagrah' at Ayodhya. Police seized 28 dynamite sticks from
the 'Karsevaks'.
1991, Oct.-B.J.P led U.
P. Govt. took over 2.77 areas of land including the disputed structure defying the ruling
of the apex court. The land was handed over to 'Ram Janambhumi Nyas' trust for only a
rupee as lease agreement.Buldozers and several other diu(,lng tools were carried to the
diputed area. 'Sankat Mochan Mandir', 'Sumitra Bhawan', 'Sitagumpha' and 'Hanuman Mandif'
was destroyed.
1992, 26th Jan.-The
Union Govt. helped B.J.P to make sucess 'Ekta Yatra'by offering them helicopters and
security.
9th July-The construction of 'Mandir' was started
and it continued for 6 days.
18th July-All the National political parties,
except B.J.P., demanded the intervention of Union Govt. in the meeting of National
Development Council.
23rd Nov.-The N.D.C meeting empowered the then Prime Minister Narasima Rao
to take all and every necessary steps to protect the Constitution and the rullina of the
apex Court.
6th Dec.-Babri
Masjid demolished by karsevaks.
The Black Sunday-The day
before and after
December 5th 1992
1.00 AM- The Margdarshak Mandal of the sants and mahants decides to hold Karseva as
planned. The Mandal does not specify the procedure to observe for the Karseva.
12.40 PM- Over the public addressal system near the disputed site, two volunters from
each contingent are asked to rehearse the training they had received in the preceding two
month. The announcement declared that the leaders of the respective contingents knew who
the trained volunteers are and the volunteers know the task they are assigned.
2.40-5.30 PM- At Ramkathakunj a hilly area not far form the disputed site nearly 500
volunteers rehearse their training
7.00 PM- Veteran B.J.P. Leader L.K. Advani is directed to hasten his arrival to the
site from the formerly scheduled time of 1.00 PM on 6th December to the night of 5th
December itself.
11.00 PM- Advani arrives at Faizabad and starts.for Ayodhya. On reaching Ayodhya he
confers with Ashok Singhal and other leaders of the Sangh Parivar.
December 6th
8.00 AM- Mr L. K. Advani, Moreshwar Save, leader of Shiv Sena Parliamentary group,
Binay Katiar M.P. and leader of Bajrang Dal meet at Binay Katiar's residence.
8.15 AM- The iron fencing demarcating the disputed site of 2.774 acres of the masjid is
advanced by a meter on all sides by RSS volunters thereby shrinking the distputed area and
enlarging the surrounding space.
10.15 AM- L. K. Advani and the then B.J.R president Murli Manohar Joshi arrives at the
scene of the disputed area excitement of the karesevaks engaged in breaking down the
boundary wall of the masjid for the last twenty minutes hightens. The RSS volunters manage
to move out a few karsevaks but a large number of them remaining in the disputed area.
10.30-11.30AM- Larger numbers of Kar-Sevaks break into the disputed area.
11.35 AM- Sadhus and Mahantas begin puja on the 2.774 acres of disputed land.
11.35-11.50- Still more and more karsevaks enter the disputed area after breaking down
the boundary wall of the masjid. In the meantime the Central Reserve Police Force
protecting the masjid are attacked by a hail storm ot' sones hurled by the karsevaks.
11.50 AM- Karsevaks climb up the right dome of the masjid amid air renting
screams of 'Jai Shri Ram'.
11.51 AM- More karsevaks climb up the dome of the masjid and the hundred or so
"unwanted" C.R.P.F hugely outnumbered by stone throwing karsevaks give up.
11.55 AM- Using the broken iron fences as ladders thousands of karsevaks climb up the
masjid. Only karsevaks could be seen all over the disputed site and the masjid.
12. 1 0 PM- Ignoring all requests from M.P Uma Bharati and a few others incharge of the
public addresal system over the loudspeakers the karsevaks took no respite.
1.30 PM- Four battalions of RAF (Rapid Action Force) start for Ayodhya from Faizabad.
The R.A.F battalions enter within 2 kms of the disputed area overcoming all efforts of the
karsevaks to stop them by throwing stones and hurling burning tyres.
2:00 PM- Mr. Rabindranath Srivastav D.M. of Faizabad district tells the chief of R.A.F
over wireless that the total situation is under control and that there is no need of any
central force. The D.M. further advises the chief of R.A.F that the four battalions of the
force ought to immediately return to Faizabad for reasons of itsown security concern. The
RAF detachment is called back to Faizabad.
2:55 PM- The carefully planned destruction of the structure proceeds. The left dome is
brought down.
3:05 PM- The right dome of the masjid is also destroyed.
3:15 PM- Addressing the karsevaks over the Loudspeakers Mr. L.K. Advani directs them to
block all approaches and roads'ente,ring Ayodhya. He was anticipating a sudden arrival and
intervention of the central forces.
4:50 PM- The central dome is demolishhed
6:10 PM- The disputed structure is totally razed to the ground.
6:35 PM- The idol of the Ramiala which had been removed during the dismantling of the
structure is now brought back to its original place.
7:12 PM- The rubble is cleared from the place and the place washed with water. Houses,
shops and shanties belonging to Muslims are attacked.
7th December
1:00 AM- A canopy of yellow cloth is put in place over the idol of the Ramlala under
the supervision of Ashok Singhal, Binay Katiar, Acharya DharMendra and Acharya Bamdeva.
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