How did the BJP respond to the Babri Masjid dispute becoming a major national issue?

It capitalized on the issue and made it a key aspect of its political agenda.

Upon the opening of the Babri Masjid's locks, an upsurge in mobilization commenced on both sides of the divide. Multiple Hindu and Muslim organizations endeavored to rally their respective communities around this issue. Surprisingly, what initially appeared to be a local dispute quickly escalated into a matter of national significance, stoking communal tensions. The BJP seized upon this matter, making it a central theme in its electoral and political endeavors. Collaborating with entities such as the RSS and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), the BJP orchestrated a series of symbolic and mobilization-driven initiatives. This widespread mobilization fueled a charged atmosphere and gave rise to numerous instances of communal violence. In a bid to garner public backing, the BJP embarked on a large-scale march named the Rathyatra, commencing from Somnath in Gujarat and culminating in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.