'Behave responsibly' after Ayodhya verdict comes out: BJP tells cadre
What's the story
The construction of a grand temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya is one of the core ideologies of the Bharatiya Janata Party. And with the case nearing its climax in Supreme Court, the saffron party has issued a list of dos and don'ts for its cadre. Not making provocative statements is one of the top orders given to them. Here are more details.
Dispute
Backstory: A decades-old case will be solved soon
Concerning 2.77 acres of land in the temple town, the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute has cultural and political significance in India. In 2010, the plot was divided equally among three claimants- Sunni Waqf Board, deity Ram Lalla, and Nirmohi Akhada. Subsequently, all parties approached the Supreme Court. After referring the case for mediation earlier this year, a five-judge constitutional bench concluded daily hearings last month.
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So, when will the verdict be out?
The verdict will be out before November 17, the day Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi retires. If the judgment is not delivered by then, the entire process of setting up the bench and hearings will have to be re-started.
Order
JP Nadda chaired meeting on code of conduct
Now, Ram Temple is a sensitive issue and in the past has prompted riots. Considering the same, preventive measures have been put at a place in Ayodhya. And it seems BJP doesn't want to take any chances. Hence, it held region-based meetings to tell workers how they should behave. On Monday, its Working President JP Nadda chaired a meeting with general secretaries in Delhi.
Instructions
Don't comment till Modi-Shah say anything: BJP told members
Similar meetings were held in Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Mumbai for eastern, southern, and western regions, reports Indian Express. The leaders have been directed to not pass any comment on the verdict day, till Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah say anything. "There is a list of dos and don'ts for the leaders on verdict day," a senior leader told the daily.
Quote
PM Modi will speak for government, Shah for party
"From the government's side, the Prime Minister will make a statement after the order comes, and ministers should wait for it to get the direction. From the party side, the BJP president will come out with his comment first," the leader went on to say.
Details
Before BJP, RSS issued similar set of instructions for cadres
Further, the leader said since it's a judicial matter, BJP wants its leaders to behave responsibly. As BJP is governing the Centre and a large number of states, the party doesn't want to get "embarrassed". In fact, earlier, BJP's ideological parent RSS asked cadre to "keep calm". All events planned between November 10 and 20 have been canceled or postponed.
Preparations
Meanwhile, Ayodhya authorities are preparing for "big day"
Notably, on October 31, Ayodhya's District Magistrate Anuj Jha in an order stated that no one would be allowed to disrupt harmony. "No person except public servants deployed for security will be allowed to carry weapons, explosive materials in public places. People will also not be allowed to carry licensed weapons in any program," the order read. Passing defamatory remarks has been banned.