MAJORITY people of Ayodhya feel that the issue of Ram Temple was politicised by the Congress Party and it is this particular political party which has been hindering the solution of the tangle. This fact has emerged from a survey conducted jointly by Delhi Journalists Association, Ayodhya Foundation, Ayodhya Unit of Uttar Pradesh Journalists Association and Media Association for Social Service in two phases.
The first phase of the survey was conducted during the Assembly elections this year and the second phase was conducted during the last week of November. More than 5,000 people participated in the survey and frankly expressed their opinion on various questions related to Ayodhya. “For the last many years there have been questions as to what the people of Ayodhya feel on this issue. It was basically to know the pulse of the people of Ayodhya that this survey was conducted,” said Delhi Journalists Association president Manoj Verma, while talking to Organiser.
A total of 95 per cent people of Ayodhya support the construction of Ram Temple at the site, where Ramlala presides today, while 93 per cent are against the building of temple and mosque side-by-side. People were also seen divided over the division of land by the Allahabad High Court. However, four per cent supported the construction of Sarvadharma Smarak Sthal and one per cent expressed no opinion.
Interestingly, 98 per cent people accept the disputed site as Ramjanmabhoomi and the matter grossly related to the faith. Whereas 2 per cent look at it just a political issue. When asked whether the Ayodhya issue has been politicised, 99 per cent answered in affirmation. When asked who politicised the issue, 42 per cent named the Congress and 26 per cent blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party. Apart from it, 16 per cent blamed the Samajwadi Party, 8 per cent named the Muslim organisations and 5 per cent blamed the VHP and other Hindu organisations.
When sought their opinion over the Allahabad High Court verdict on division of the land, the opinion of majority people was seen divided. But 93 per cent clearly said no to the construction of temple and mosque side-by-side, as it would further increase the tension. When asked as to how they want the resolution of the matter, 42 per cent want solution through court, while 40 per cent said through dialogue and 18 per cent said solution through any means. (FOC)
