Given the well-known defects of the Indian democratic system, now compounded by the fact that the political winners are hell bent on imposing a unitary stream of ideas on anyone and everyone, the judiciary’s biggest challenge is to stand firm as an independent arbiter of the rule of law.
Even though prosecutions for the 1992 crime of demolishing the Babri Masjid are hanging fire, the Supreme Court earlier this year decided to explore the possibility of a mediated resolution to the Ayodhya dispute. Significantly, the court’s push for mediation came against the backdrop of leaders from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party declaring that they are prepared to do what it takes to ensure that a Ram temple is built at the disputed site regardless of what the court says.
For several months now, a small team of court-appointed mediators have been meeting with the stakeholders to the case to explore the possibility of an out-of-court settlement. In line with the apex court’s directions, the process has been conducted behind closed doors. No information about the progress, or lack thereof, has leaked so far.
On Thursday, the court asked the three member panel to submit a report by July 18. This news has once again revived interest in the Ayodhya issue itself, and in what the possible contours of a just and honourable settlement could be.
Also Read: The Untold Story of How the Rama Idol Surfaced Inside Babri Masjid
The entangled dispute is the result of an admixture of facts, beliefs, truths and even lies, all at the same time. The situation, as it stands today, would not have emerged if the Babri mosque had not been demolished on December 6, 1992. The perpetrators of the demolition have not been punished so far, and despite the court’s directions, there is no sign that the case involving them is being actively pursued. At stake are the garima and maryada of a nation, its identity in the globalised world, and all of its 1.35 billion citizens. Yet the lack of political, media and even judicial interest in the crime that was committed is manifest.
The solution
There is no problem in the world which cannot be settled through negotiation. It is the duty of every citizen of this nation to strive for such a solution, even if it is through the process of mediation. The process is important, not the people involved in the mediation. It does not really matter who is mediating, as long as they pursue prudent, logical and democratic steps; and provided the government of the day is open to implement the negotiated elements through budgetary allocations and appropriate legal backing.
In our view, the conditions precedent to any mediated settlement must include the following:
- The criminal case that pertains to the Babri masjid demolition must be hastened and a decision must precede the ‘mediated compromise’.
- A national legislation must be passed making it a criminal act to demand any repeat of the same process of demolishing or removing a pre-existing mosque, be it in Mathura or in Varanasi, two sites that the Sangh parivar has spoken of in the past.
- The mediated compromise formula must be accepted, endorsed and kept in abeyance until the criminal case is decided.
- No individual found guilty of having conspired to demolish the Babri masjid, or any organisation he or she has been a part of, can play any role in the management or administration of the temple or the Ayodhya smart city project, which is explained below.
Demolition of Babri Masjid. Credit: Sanjay Sharma/INDIAPIX NETWORK
Mediated formula
The whole town of Ayodhya must be declared a ‘National Cultural Smart City’, directly financed and managed by the Central government. It should not be administered by the state government. Here are some other suggestions.
- The Central government must create a department to manage the Ayodhya smart city within the Union home ministry.
- The smart city’s planning must be overseen by the best city planners and architects, from around India and abroad.
- The planning can create a space such as the one at Rajpath in New Delhi.
- The Ram temple construction can take place at the very site where the idol of Ram Lalla is now worshiped. All three parts to the disputed land, currently apportioned on a one-third basis between the ‘Hindu’ side, the ‘Muslim’ side and the Nirmohi Akhara, must be assigned to the temple.
- A broad open space should be beautified in the form of parks, lakes, museums, libraries, playgrounds, visitor centres and markets for cultural and traditional products and so on.
- At the end of the other side of this open space, a beautiful mosque designed to suit the architecture of the smart city should be constructed. It can be a modern artistic structure.
- The whole smart city must be managed by a body (managing committee) of 100 members. Women must form at least one third of these members.
- The Hindu community must be represented by 70 members in this committee.
- 25 members must be Muslims, representing local areas and also drawn from all major states of India. Women must form at least one third of these members.
- The remaining five members must belong to recognised minorities other than Muslims.
- The minorities will dedicate their services to both the construction, maintenance and development of the Ayodhya smart city – the cultural capital of India. Muslims from all over India will lend their services to the communities all over the smart city.
- Another body of experts and advisors is created so that representation is given to citizens from across India and even abroad.
This smart city model will become an example for all cities, towns and villages to follow. There cannot be a better administration in which all citizens join ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ to protect the glory of the Indian ethos.
Abusaleh Shariff (ashariff@usindiapolicy.org) is chief scholar at the US-India Policy Institute. Views expressed are his own and do not represent any institution or organisation he belongs.