06-27-2008, 12:16 PM
Have the Imams agreed to let Rama temple be built on the site where Babri mosque used to be?
None of the quoted responses mention this. All the claims like Imams are supporting Advani, they are throwing their weight behind him and they agree to his formula are not within quotes, and evidently they are reporter's "opinions".
No other news site mentions this. Nothing is available on the Imams' website either:
http://imamindia.tripod.com/
From that article, the actual text within quotes, i.e. actual words used by the Imams is:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->"only establish permanent fraternal bonds between the two major communities of India".
"And, in that case, as a society, we shall also experience and cherish unprecedented communal amity and harmony,"
"Under your leadership/prime ministership we, as a nation, will march towards our common destiny with a new moral and political strength,"
"The BJP and its allies can be the alternative provided common issues are highlighted. Social and economic issues are targeted. Communal issues are not focused."
"Next election is neither on passion nor on development. It is simply on inflation and its impact on the men on streets,"
"After many elections, it will now be an election on common issues,"
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
My reading of all this is that Imams want to talk nice to Advani, and they have used vague, general, communal-harmony type of pleasantries. If they had agreed to let Rama temple be built at the Babri mosque site, then that would have been a big news and every news site would be reporting it. At least Organiser would be mnetionig it. But notheing there either.
http://www.organiser.org
So, just like Vajpayee was led along the garden path, so will many attempts be made to do the same to Advani. I expect such shows to increase till the elections. And also a lot of media articles praising such initiatives from the muslim community and asking BJP to "reciprocate". But I can bet that elections figures will show that no muslim vote would have turned to BJP, even if every Imam happily shook hands with Advani.
Also, it is not given that BJP will come back to power. It is quite certain that Congress will not regain power. The left parties will be dented, but they always manage to gain a chunk of seats. But a "third front" may gain on those seats where Congress loses. BJP has to be careful how it handles its campaign. Getting sucked into a position, where Advani will be endorsed in public by Shahi Imam Abdullah Bukhari kind of characters, will dent his chances with the hindu voters. He has just been rehabilitated after his Jinnah fiasco. He needs to tread carefully.
None of the quoted responses mention this. All the claims like Imams are supporting Advani, they are throwing their weight behind him and they agree to his formula are not within quotes, and evidently they are reporter's "opinions".
No other news site mentions this. Nothing is available on the Imams' website either:
http://imamindia.tripod.com/
From that article, the actual text within quotes, i.e. actual words used by the Imams is:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->"only establish permanent fraternal bonds between the two major communities of India".
"And, in that case, as a society, we shall also experience and cherish unprecedented communal amity and harmony,"
"Under your leadership/prime ministership we, as a nation, will march towards our common destiny with a new moral and political strength,"
"The BJP and its allies can be the alternative provided common issues are highlighted. Social and economic issues are targeted. Communal issues are not focused."
"Next election is neither on passion nor on development. It is simply on inflation and its impact on the men on streets,"
"After many elections, it will now be an election on common issues,"
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
My reading of all this is that Imams want to talk nice to Advani, and they have used vague, general, communal-harmony type of pleasantries. If they had agreed to let Rama temple be built at the Babri mosque site, then that would have been a big news and every news site would be reporting it. At least Organiser would be mnetionig it. But notheing there either.
http://www.organiser.org
So, just like Vajpayee was led along the garden path, so will many attempts be made to do the same to Advani. I expect such shows to increase till the elections. And also a lot of media articles praising such initiatives from the muslim community and asking BJP to "reciprocate". But I can bet that elections figures will show that no muslim vote would have turned to BJP, even if every Imam happily shook hands with Advani.
Also, it is not given that BJP will come back to power. It is quite certain that Congress will not regain power. The left parties will be dented, but they always manage to gain a chunk of seats. But a "third front" may gain on those seats where Congress loses. BJP has to be careful how it handles its campaign. Getting sucked into a position, where Advani will be endorsed in public by Shahi Imam Abdullah Bukhari kind of characters, will dent his chances with the hindu voters. He has just been rehabilitated after his Jinnah fiasco. He needs to tread carefully.