Owaisi Questions Congress Over Unlocking of Ram Janmabhoomi Site in 1986

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has questioned the Congress over the decision to unlock the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya in 1986. His remarks came in response to references in Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love. Owaisi said he continues to respect Sonia Gandhi and recalled supporting her during the debate over the India-US nuclear deal. However, he raised questions about the Congress’s role in the events surrounding the opening of the locks.

The locks at the disputed site were opened on February 1, 1986, allowing Hindu devotees to offer prayers. Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister at the time, and the Congress was in power in Uttar Pradesh under Chief Minister Vir Bahadur Singh. Owaisi questioned who was responsible for the decision, pointing to the political circumstances of that period. His comments have brought renewed attention to the Congress’s role in the Ayodhya dispute and the history of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.