This Article is From Oct 02, 2010

Ayodhya verdict: Temple politics in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: A day after the landmark Ayodhya verdict, the Home Minister, P Chidambaram made it clear that the resolution of the title suit has nothing to do with the criminal case against those who demolished the Babri Masjid in December 1992.  (Read: Verdict doesn't justify Babri demolition, says Chidambaram)

While there was no violence after Thursday's judgement, there are now signs that some political parties have begun to give the verdict a political spin.

Both the Hindu Mahasabha and the Sunni Wakf Board have decided to appeal in the Supreme Court but political parties in Uttar Pradesh are trying to champion the cause of the minorities.

"I am disappointed with the judgement. Muslims are disappointed with yesterdays judgement," Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party chief said.

For the Samjawadi party chief, it is a calculated strategy to reach out to the Muslims. In the last Lok Sabha elections in 2009, minorties had voted in favour of the Congress. But now the Samajwadi Party, which traditionally has a large support base amongst the Muslims, senses the opportunity to win them back.

Mulayam Singh's political rivals, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are not to be left behind. "I want to assure people of all faiths, especially Muslims, that there is nothing to fear when it comes to security, " Mayawati, BSP Chief and Uttar Pardesh Chief Minister said in Lucknow on Friday.

As the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) seeks use the High Court verdict to revive its Ram Temple agenda, within Uttar Pradesh,  parties have already started leveraging the verdict for political purposes. (Read: Congress for reconcilliation,BJP says let the temple be built)

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