‘Ayodhya Verdict at Odds With Its Own Principles’: Yogendra Yadav

“The principles laid down by the Supreme Court and judgment don’t seem to fit with each other,” says Yogendra Yadav.

‘The principles laid down by the Supreme Court and judgment don’t seem to fit’: Yogendra Yadav on Ayodhya verdict.

(Photo: Shruti Mathur/ The Quint)

Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj

“There should be closure,” says Yogendra Yadav, political commentator and president of Swaraj India, about the long-awaited Ayodhya judgment pronounced by a 5-judge bench on 9 November 2019.

In an article written a few days ago, Yadav had proclaimed that November would be a test for secular politics ahead of the anticipated verdict.

“There should be no victors and no vanquished,” he told The Quint in an interview when asked for his reaction to the Supreme Court handing over the disputed land to a Centre-managed trust for building a Ram temple.

“I would be lying if I said I was very happy with the compromise that they have attempted. But it’s a compromise and I would urge that we accept it even if we are not happy.”

Yogendra Yadav, President, Swaraj India

When asked if the proposal to build the mosque at an alternate site would be enough to placate minorities, Yadav said:

“There is a discrepancy, some might say, though we have to read the entire judgment. When the Supreme Court was laying down principles and when it was giving operational judgment, they don’t quite seem to fit with one another.”

Yogendra Yadav, President, Swaraj India

The visual of the three domes of the Babri Masjid being pulled down in 1992 has continued to haunt many Muslims, with doubts being raised around India’s ‘secular’ fabric, and the institutions many believe should have protected the mosque.

After the 70-year land dispute was dealt with in the highest court of the land, Yadav says it might pave way for other ambitious moves by the BJP, such as the Uniform Civil Code, Citizenship Amendment Bill and the Anti-Conversion Act.

“Citizenship Amendment Bill would be anathema for this country because that would be introducing two-nation theory in this country.”

Yogendra Yadav, President, Swaraj India