National

Parindas In The Caged City

The VHP says it's all set to storm Ayodhya on Mar 15, but ground realities suggest otherwise

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Parindas In The Caged City
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The mood, though, isn’t as upbeat as it was last week. With the government virtually sealing all entry points into Ayodhya, the VHP says it might have to take the roundabout route, bringing in the Rambhakts by foot. As things stand, no train, bus, not even a bullock cart can cross into the temple town without the permission of the district magistrate. The VHP gameplan seems to be to find ways of providing Rambhakts accommodation outside Ayodhya for now and then sneaking them in later. According to Sharma, "Villagers around Faizabad are our best bet. They are mostly willing to give shelter to the Rambhakts. Later, the devotees will reach here with a vengeance and the pillars will be moved to the proposed site."

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The sevaks are a defiant lot. They say they are ready to face anything—lathis, guns, even go to jail. The insolence is no brag, it comes from past experience. Explains Ramesh Mani Dixit, the regional VHP co-coordinator: "Remember how in 1992 Mullah (Mulayam Singh) Yadav had proclaimed ‘ek parinda bhi yahan ghus nahin payega (not even a bird will be able to enter this city) and we proved it wrong." Neither Dixit nor the others—their numbers have somewhat dwindled in the last few days—are worried that their hardline stand could bring down the BJP government at the Centre. Says VHP’s international general secretary Praveen Togadia: "So what if the government falls at the Centre? We are here to build the temple and not make or break the government."

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Togadia is also unfazed about a crackdown on the VHP leaders. "All Hindus are Rambhakts, how many will they put behind bars?" he asks scoffing at the government. His sole aim, he candidly admits, is to polarise Hindu forces hoping that the government finally "understands". He is, however, quick to add that he has lost all faith in the Vajpayee-led government. "I am not here to pressurise the government. What can we expect of them when they have proved they are barely Hindustanis?"

Be it sants, VHP leaders, activists or devotees, they all fail to understand why the politicians are breaking their heads when the plans are only to erect the Ram temple at the ‘undisputed site’. The small gathering at Karsevakpuram is symbolic of the mood. It’s been trying to gather as much fervour as it can in the past few days. Named after the kar sevaks, the area has been specially done up for March 15, the day when the carved pillars will be moved to the proposed site outside the disputed area. A huge tent has been constructed where a yagna is taking place. People sit and chant around the holy fire.

Thousands of kar sevaks have been forced to turn back ever since the CRPF sealed Ayodhya last week. Activists of the VHP camped in the town are very critical of the government’s clampdown on kar sevaks, but are biding their time.

The government restrictions, however, have had little impact on the Rambhakts who have managed to stay back in Ayodhya. "The scene will soon change, there will be action. We are working at getting all the kar sevaks here, despite all the hurdles," says Girija Dubey angrily. Girija is a member of the Durga Vahini, a group of woman sevaks.

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It’s a far cry from a fortnight ago when Ayodhya was teeming with activity. Rambhakts had arrived from all over the country to participate in the yagna prior to the proposed Ram mandir construction. There was chanting and slogan-shouting at all streetcorners. Loudspeakers blared kirtans and the town was awash with saffron. Everywhere one looked there was the kar sevak with his trademark headband and trishul. In contrast, Ayodhya town now looks relatively deserted.

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