“The role of democracy in preventing community based violence depends on the ability of inclusive and interactive political processes to subdue the poisonous fanaticism of divisive communal thinking.”–Amartya Sen, The Idea of Justice.
The Liberhan Ayodhya Commission of Inquiry set up after some 12 days of the demolition of Babri Masjid on the fateful day of 6th December took 17 years to submit its report. The 13 page Action Taken Report along with the Liberhan Report were tabled in the Parliament today amidst chaos and (ironically speaking) unparliamentary stunts. While justice in state sponsored evils have a tendency to get delayed and oft denied, what is somewhat surprising is that the Report, freezing for 17 years, is in reality a walking talking paper tiger. The slips between the cup and the lip–the conclusion and recommendation part for example, are simply astonishing! While it points fingers at 68 odd leaders of BJP, RSS and VHP for destruction of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid structure and ‘bringing the country on the brink of a communal discord’, no action plan has been suggested to bring them to trial. Mother of all surprises–The recommendations do not speak of bringing anyone to trial! What went probably missing from it was the thought that ran in the minds of the fathers of the Constitution when they separated religion from politics. The intention was to insulate issues of governance from that of theology.
The government’s ATR also does not recommend or foresee a punitive action on these 68 perpetrators. Evidently, the excuse is Liberhan Commission is a fact finding commission
The ATR however talks about a Communal Violence Bill in the offing. While a Communal Violence Bill was also tabled in the Parliament after the systematic mass killings in Gujarat and subsequently got lost in the politics of legislation, it is to be seen how much water the ATR promise holds.
The law minister expects a follow up response. So do we, most certainly!
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