BJP, VHP keep daily tab on SC hearings on Ayodhya

By Anindya BanerjeeNew Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) With Supreme Court hearing the Ayodhya matter on a daily basis, the BJP and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) are keeping a close tab on the proceedings and all three organisations have earmarked individuals for this purpose who are supposed to prepare the report briefs.BJP sources here say a top cabinet minister of the Modi government, along with the party General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav, have been on the job of noting down the Supreme Court’s observations.

The essence is then conveyed to the leadership in simple language that helps formulate strategy.It helps the BJP leadership direct its panel of spokespersons on what point to harp on during television debates. The BJP holds a briefing of the spokesperson daily on weekdays at its headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg here.Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which led thousands of karsevaks in 1992, in an assault leading to the destruction of the Babri Masjid, has also created a small but dedicated team headed by Champat Rai to keep itself updated on the matter on a daily basis.

Champat Rai is Vice President of the VHP and handles its legal affairs.VHP’s national spoeksperson Vinod Bansal told IANS: “It’s VHP who fought for Ram Lalla all this while. So when the verdict seems to be in sight, it’s natural for us to keep a daily tab on the issue”. “Our estimate says, three to four months will be spent for formalities after the verdict. We will start building the Ram Temple from early 2020. We are making grounds for that,” he added.The de facto head of the VHP, Alok Kumar, has recently announced how he has already mobilised district units of the outfit across India, who will bring bricks for building a Ram Temple.The sources also said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabole has also been keeping regular tab on the hearings in the apex court.The Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi is scheduled to retire on November 17 this year and he wishes to give a verdict on the Ayodhya matter before his retirement.

Hence, the bench hearing the matter has set October 18 as deadline for completion of arguments by all sides. The bench has categorically said: “If arguments can’t get over by October 18, there won’t be extra days”. It is with this in mind that, not only the BJP, but its ideological mentor the RSS is also keeping a daily watch on a matter that holds huge significance for them.

(Anindya Banerjee can be contacted at [email protected])

–IANSabn/bc