Mumbai: Organiser, which is known to be a pro-RSS publication, has expressed difference the saffron body chief Mohan Bhagwat’s view on the temple-mosque controversy.
Bhagwat had recently reiterated that Hindus should not look for Shivling below every mosque. His suggestion had drawn sharp reactions from right-wing intellectuals like Vishnu Jain, Anand Ranganathan and J. Sai Deepak and even senior seers like Rambhadracharya.
Now the “Organiser” itself has taken a view contrary to Bhagwat’s without mentioning his name. In an editorial in its latest issue, the magazine said knowing the history of disputed sites was important for “civilisation justice.”
The cover story is about the dispute over the Shahi Jama Masjid at Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh which witnessed communal violence recently. The magazine said knowing the truth about religious structures was crucial.
Sources in the RSS said Bhagwat had made the observation in the larger interest of the nation. They said the mandir-masjid disputes could result in major law and order problem across the country and this in turn would push economic progress behind by several decades.
“Hindus have made a big point by building the Ram janambhoomi temple over the dispute Babri masjid site. At most they could aspire for temples in Kashi and Mathura, which are very holy places. But to dig up each and every mosque will serve little purpose,” an RSS supporter reasoned.
The controversy over Bhagwat’s remarks has emerged in the background of the Supreme Court staying hearing on all suits relating to temple-mosque disputes across the country. Also the challenge to Constitutional validity of the Places of Worship Act is pending before the Supreme Court.
Many feel that even if the Act itself is not declared ultra vires of the Constitution, section 3 of the legislation provides a window of hope where ancient and ASI protected structures are concerned.
The editorial observed that by acknowledging the historical truth and separating Indian Muslims from the acts of past iconoclasm and religious supremacy a path to peace and communal harmony will be opened.
“Denying such access to justice and the right to know the truth simply because some colonised elites and pseudo-intellectuals wish to continue with a flawed version of secularism would only fuel radicalism, separatism, and hostility,” the editiorial resoned.
