History, politics in the air as a Gandhi visits Ayodhya after two decades

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi prayed at a temple in Ayodhya on Friday, becoming the first member of the Nehru-Gandhi family to visit the town in Uttar Pradesh since 1992, when a disputed mosque was demolished by a Hindu mob.

Gandhi offered prayers at the Haunman Garhi temple and met Gyan Das, the seer of the temple, at Das's residence nearby.

"All politicians come here to seek blessings and I bless everyone. I also blessed Rahul Gandhi. He is a nice man," Das, who is known for his stand against the Right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad, said.

Rahul Gandhi offered prayers at the Haunman Garhi temple and met Gyan Das, the seer of the temple, at Das's residence nearby.
HT Photo)
As a convoy of cars, buses and open trucks rolled into the temple town, people rushed out of their houses to catch a glimpse of the Congress leader.

Gandhi had with him a picture of Lord Hanuman and a 'Ramnami chadar (a piece of cloth with the name of Lord Ram printed on it)'.

This time much significance is being attached Gandhi's visit to Ayodhya. After a string of election defeats, the Congress is eyeing to script a success in the upcoming polls in UP, where caste and religion influence voters.

Hindu groups claim that the disputed Babri Masjid, which was attacked on December 6, 1992, was built by razing a temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram, who is believed to be a reincarnation of Hindu god Vishnu. They demand the construction of a temple at the disputed site.

The demolition of the mosque marked an important chapter in Indian politics and remains a flashpoint of tensions between Hindus and Muslims.

"Rahul Gandhi is neither a party to the ongoing dispute nor is he a judge. Why should I bother him on the Ram temple issue?" Das asked.

In 1990, Gandhi's father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Ayodhya. He could not visit the Hanuman Garhi, which is about a kilometre away from the Ram Temple at the disputed Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri Masjid site, due to the lack of time.

During Friday's visit, Gandhi stayed away from the place where the foundation stone was laid in 1989 for the construction of the Ram Temple.

Later in the day, he is expected to visit the Kichaucha Sharif Dargah, a Muslim shrine in adjoining Ambedkar Nagar. He will also meet Dalits in a Dalit colony.