|
History
for the Record
1528: Babar's general Mir Baqi builds
the Babri Masjid, apparently at the behest of the emperor himself. Local
people believe it was built over an 11th century temple.
1949: An idol of Ram is installed
in the masjid. Hindus begin offering prayers. Local Muslims protest, the
city magistrate attaches the property but prayers continue.
1950-1961: Three cases are registered
by Hindus asking for unrestricted darshan. In 1961, the Sunni Waqf Board
puts in its claim for the restoration of the mosque.
Beginning of Trouble
 1984:
The VHP launches a temple construction movement and on October
7 a "liberation" march from Sitamarhi in Bihar to Lucknow reaches Ayodhya
for an oath-taking ceremony.
1986: On February 1, the Faizabad
sessions judge allows Hindus to worship at the site. The VHP celebrates
the decision. The Babri Masjid Action Committee (bmac) is formed within
a month.
1988-1989: Nearly two lakh shilan
pujas are held all over India leading to riots, notably in Bhagalpur in
Bihar. At its Palampur session, the BJP officially supports the building
of a temple at the Babri Masjid site. The Allahabad High Court issues
interim directive to maintain the status quo of the disputed property
pending final judgement. All district court cases are transferred to it.
Politics of Populism
|
|
| 1989:VHP conducts shilanyas |
November 9, 1989: Prime minister
Rajiv Gandhi allows shilanyas at an "undisputed site" before the Lok Sabha
elections. This is followed by rioting. In the polls, the BJP tally rises
from 2 to 86.
September/October 1990: BJP president
L.K. Advani goes on a rath yatra and is arrested in Bihar. Thousands of
kar sevaks gather in Ayodhya and 30 are killed in police firing. The V.P.
Singh government falls.
January 1991: Prime minister Chandra
Shekhar initiates talks with VHP and BMAC.
May/June 1991: The Ayodhya tussle
is the core issue in the mid-term polls. BJP tally moves up from 86 to
119. It also wins in UP assembly polls.
October 1991: Places of Worship Bill
passed by the Lok Sabha says all religious places shall be maintained
according to their status on August 15, 1947. Ayodhya is left out on the
excuse that the matter is in the courts.
|
|
| 1990: Ashok Singhal injured in
Kar seva |
Countdown to Destruction
October 1991: Kalyan Singh's government
in UP takes possession of 2.77 acres of land adjoining the disputed site,
ostensibly for pilgrim facilities. BMAC challenges the notification.
August 1992: Kar sevaks lay a large
foundation east of the Babri Masjid.
November 28, 1992: The Supreme Court
accepts the plea by UP government to allow the singing of hymns at the
site. The state government assures court that the structure will be protected.
|
|
| 1991: Ayodhya talks at government's
behest |
December 6, 1992: The Babri Masjid
is demolished by frenzied kar sevaks. Rioting breaks out all over India
leaving 1,200 people dead.
October 24, 1994: The Supreme Court
rejects the single-point presidential reference on whether or not a temple
existed before the mosque. It upholds the Ayodhya acquisition of 1993.
February, 2001: At the Kumbh Mela
the VHP sets the deadline for beginning the construction of the temple
for March 2002.
-Compiled by Anshul Avijit
|
CURRENT
ISSUE MARCH 25, 2002
){kind=link}