New Delhi, March 5
The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, today failed to appear before the Liberhan Commission, probing the sequence of events leading to the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.

“The repeated adjournments sought are regreted....no further adjournments will be granted,” said Justice M S Liberhans, while scheduling April 10 and 11 as the fresh date to summon Mr Advani.

The Commission passed the order, after the counsel for the Union Home Minister sought adjournment on the grounds that Mr Advani had to leave for Andaman and Nicobar Islands to attend an urgent meeting at Raj Niwas in Port Blair.

“In spite of his (Mr Advani’s) best efforts, the visit could not be avoided because of the importance of the issue involved during his visit,” the application said.

The Commission, declining to grant further adjournments, observed “a number of adjournments have taken place. On the last date of hearing, the adjournment was granted as the witness had to attend an important meeting in the North-East because of the special situation prevailing there.”

The hearing of the noted Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande, who was to appear before the Commission on April 10 and 11 has now been postponed to April 19 and 20.

The Union Sports Minister, Ms Uma Bharati, and former West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Jyoti Basu, would depose before the Commission on March 15 and 16. Ms Bharati had deposed before the Commission on January 15 and 16 and her deposition remains inclusive.

The hearing of RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan is scheduled for March 21, while Union Human Resource Development Minister, Murli Manohar Joshi is slated to appear before the Commission on March 22 and 23.

Former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao who appeared before the Commission on February 19 and 20, would continue his deposition on April 9.

The Liberhan Commission, expressed regret over the failure of the Home Minister to depose before it as a witness.

The order was passed following an application moved by Advani’s counsel Satya Pal Jain seeking adjournment on the ground that the minister had to leave for Andaman and Nicobar Islands to attend an urgent meeting at the Raj Niwas in Port Blair.

The application said, “in spite of his (Advani’s) best efforts, the visit could not be avoided because of the importance of the issue involved during this visit”.