Author:
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: April 12, 2001
Union sports minister Uma Bharati,
who reiterated her belief in construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya,
told the Liberhan Commission on Wednesday that the Babri masjid there was
a "symbol of slavery' as it was known by the name of an "aggressor.'
Describing the Babri masjid as an
"insult to the nation," Ms Bharati known for her inflammatory speeches
in the early 90s supporting the BJP's Hindutva line as well as the construction
of Ram temple at Ayodhya - in her final deposition before the commission
said: "I am hurt by anything that goes by the name of an aggressor. I cannot
relate such a structure with any religion. Aggressors should only be treated
like aggressors."
She went to on cite the example
of Zimbabwe, formerly known as Rhodesia, where the names of buildings,
cities and roads kept after its British rulers, were changed after it gained
independence. The Rhodesians did it despite the fact that their erstwhile
rulers belonged to the same religion (Christianity), she remarked.
Ms Bharati's observations indirectly
justify the demolition of Babri masjid, named after Mughal emperor Babur
who she described as an "aggressor", by kar sevaks wanting to build Ram
temple at the disputed site. Asserting that she believed in the construction
of a Ram temple at Ayodhya, Ms Bharati said "my being a minister or not
does not affect my belief."
She, however, expressed faith in
the judicial system saying, "whatever be the court verdict (on the Ayodhya
issue), I shall happily accept that." She dismissed questions about a possible
dash between her belief in construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and
her oath as a minister, saying "the question is entirely hypothetical and
such an occasion would not arise."
