The blame goes to Rao for not taking any action when it was known to him that lakhs of Kar Sewaks had reached Ayodhya.
Already, he had been informed about the conspiracy to demolish the ancient mosque.
When the mosque was attacked, Narasimha Rao remained incommunicado and didn't take steps to protect the mosque.
World's biggest democracy had turned into a mobocracy. In Ayodhya--the place where there can't be any Yuddha [war], lumpens who claimed to be Ram bhakts were destroying ideals of Lord Rama.
Kalyan Singh's BJP government in Lucknow was backing the Kar Sewaks. It had blessings from Narasimha Rao, India's Prime Minister, from Delhi. For hours on December 6 1992, Ayodhya saw the brazen assault on the religious structure as well as India's secular fabric and its ethos.
1. Rao chose to remain silent. UP government had given assurance to court that there would be no harm to Babri Masjid. However, Congress government at the Centre kept its eyes close while the world watched--through BBC and other foreign channels, how the mosque was demolished in broad daylight.
2. Later, when mosque was razed and a temporary Ram Temple was built over the debris of the mosque, Rao decided to speak. On Doordarshan, he addressed the nation with a grave face, saying that mosque would be rebuilt.
3. Rao's promise to build mosque again, was another lie. Soon riots broke out across the country.
In Congress-ruled Maharashtra, the rioting was worst. However, there was no effort to control it, neither Sudhakar Rao Naik's Congress government was dismissed.
4. In two rounds of communal riots police didn't act tough against the rioters even as nearly 1,500-2,000 persons were killed.
Mumbai was burning. The role of Shiv Sena cadre in this period is well documented. Muslims were getting killed and remember it was Congress government in Delhi that remained oblivious to the plight of the Muslims. The police officers who were involved in violence were never prosecuted.
Maharashtra state [Congress government] put obstacles at every step to ensure that victims of Mumbai massacre never got justice. Sri Krishna Commission report was thrown in dustbin and its recommendations were not implemented.
5. No wonder, Rao is seen as the architect of demolition and anti-Muslim violence. The man ensured that whatever little regard Indian Muslims had for Congress, was now a thing of past. If there was any option anywhere, Muslims would vote for that party.
READ: ROLE OF SUDHAKAR NAIK'S CONGRESS GOVERNMENT IN MUMBAI RIOTS
Dalits were already abandoning it with the rise of BSP. December 6, 1992 is the day Indian Muslims felt helpless across the country.
It was similar to what Sikhs had felt in Delhi in 1984 when Rajiv Gandhi was at the helm.
This is history, it can't be erased. Congress again came back to power, formed governments.
But the fact remains that it has lost its connect with Muslims. And, it is unlikely for Muslims to return to Congress sooner in future.
Indian Muslims are searching for alternatives, the search is on.
