A rousing speech by veteran Communist leader AB Bardhan, who passed away on Saturday, which he gave as part of Anand Patwardhan’s 1992 documentary film ‘Ram Ke Naam’ extolling secular values, still holds relevance.

The Youtube video starts with the narrator saying that responding to an appeal by secular forces, people are travelling to Patna to express their opposition to the Rath Yatra.

Then, Bardhan begins his speech by saying, “Even after 43 years of independence, prices are still going through the roof. Crores of youths are unemployed. More than half the population is suffering from hunger and poverty and is below the poverty line. Here, illiteracy and disease are widespread, but it would seem from the last few months, that none of these problems exist. The only issue that exists is that of the temple-mosque.”

The Communist leader goes on to say that the BJP can build a Ram temple anywhere in Ayodhya but should not insist on building it at the spot where the Babri Masjid exists, by demolishing it.

Here is the video.