‘Rajiv indirectly to blame for Babri razing’

Ahead of the September 24 Ayodhya verdict, French historian and political pundit Christophe Jaffrelot has held former prime minister the late Rajiv Gandhi indirectly responsible for the demolition of Babri Masjid.

Speaking after launching his book, Religion, Caste and Politics in India, at the French embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday, the expert said, “From the Shah Bano case to opening the mosque on VHP’s request to launching his election campaign from ‘Ram’s land’ Faizabad, he [Rajiv Gandhi] was playing Hindus against Muslims and vice-versa.”

At the same time, Jaffrelot, who teaches South Asian politics and history at SciencesPo in Paris, cautioned the saffron brigade against re-launching its anti-Muslim tirade. He reminded BJP that the middle class had deserted it in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections for the same reason.

Jaffrelot, however, denied the party was a spent force. “You cannot reduce BJP to anti-minority agenda. It has other cards up its sleeve. It may come to power not because it will do something but because Congress will fail to do things. The UPA is divided and paralytic. A strong PM is absent to manage the team,” he said.
About Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi replacing Manmohan Singh as the prime minister, the French author said it depended on whether UPA comes to power again.

“Congress needs a Gandhi. Sans a Gandhi, it is faction-ridden. [NCP chief and agriculture minister] Sharad Pawar and [Trinamool Congress chief and railway minister] Mamata Banerjee moved out when there was no Gandhi around. No doubt Congress will promote Rahul,” he said.

About Gujarat chief minister and senior BJP leader Narender Modi’s chances of becoming PM, Jaffrelot said it could happen only by default.