PM must take lead in resolving Ayodhya issue, ending cow slaughter

As a popular Prime Minister representing the collective will and aspirations of 125 crore plus Indians, NarendraModi would do well to take the lead in resolving the Ayodhya dispute and the row over cow slaughter. There is a precedence of the Prime Minister taking such a lead.  In February 1982, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had written a letter to the Chief Ministers of 14 States, asking them to enforce the ban on cow slaughter in letter and spirit. Both Chandrashekar (1991) and Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2002) had taken a personal lead in trying to resolve the Mandir-Masjid dispute. Cow slaughter has been a controversial subject before and after the country’s independence. Several Muslim leaders such as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Ali Brothers and others had urged Muslims to voluntarily give up beef-eating during the Khilafat movement. In 1952 when the first general election took place, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's opponent at Phulpur, Swami Prabhudutt Brahmachari, had fought the election on the plank of cow protection. Brahmachari was supported by Swami Karpatri's Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad and the All India Hindu Mahasabha. The January 28, 1952 issue of Time magazine had recorded Brahmachari’s campaign. He “wears a luxuriant grey beard, orange-and-red-rimmed spectacles, a saffron robe and a long white loincloth", Time reported, adding, "Holy man Brahmachari toured Nehru's constituency in a 1931 Dodge sedan accompanied by a troupe of Hindu singers. To the chanting of Hindu psalms, he danced on the platform, rhythmically tapping a pair of small brass cymbals. A disciple read from a pamphlet he had written.” Brahmachari had taken a vow of silence but his pamphlet had accused Nehru of allowing cow slaughter in independent India. In May, Modi will be completing three years in office. While many high priority areas have been attended, the Prime Minister needs to address the issue of cow protection too. It is bizarre to note that in several BJP-ruled States cow slaughter is permitted even as it overzealous sympathisers have formed cow protection vigilante groups in other States and are resorting to violence.  If a nation-wide ban on cow slaughter is required, the Prime Minister must consider that option to curb smuggling of cattle from one State to another and across the border. Supreme Court Chief Justice  JS Khehar’s recent offer of his personal mediation to help resolve the vexed Ayodhya dispute may have few takers among Muslims but a large number of younger Muslims want Modi to take a personal lead to settle the dispute. They feel Modi alone can implement a “peace formula” and convince the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and RSS leadership to resolve the issue in a “spirit of give and take.” During his brief tenure, Chandrashekhar had succeeded in bringing the VHP and the Babri Masjid Action Committee members to the negotiating table. Then in 2002, Vajpayee had brought together Qazi Mujahid-ul-Islam (now dead), who was heading the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, and Kanchi Shankaracharya Swami Jayendra Saraswati to work out a compromise formula. A lasting and peceful solution relating to Ayodhya and cow protection would enhance Modi’s stature globally and give him opportunity to win the minds and hearts of the minority community too.  There is no dearth of youngsters including Muslims who are optimistic about a “new beginning” in Modi’s call for a “New India.” (The author is an Associate Editor with The Telegraph, Calcutta) Rasheed Kidwai tweets @rasheedkidwai Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and views of ABP News Network Pvt Ltd.