The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tuesday, May 15, 2001,
Chandigarh, India

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BJP to abide by verdict
Demolition was illegal, admits Advani
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 14
The Centre’s compromise on the Shah Bano case and the opening of the gates of the temple resulted in the BJP getting involved in the Ayodhya movement, said the Union Home Minister, Mr L. K. Advani, here today.

Union Home Minister L.K. Advani arrives for the hearing of the Liberhan Commission at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.
— PTI photo

The BJP would not have thought of participating in the movement “if the Shah Bano episode had not taken place, if the government had not actively facilitated the shilanyas and opening of Ram Janmabhoomi temple gates,” he said deposing before the Liberhan Commission inquiring into the sequence of events leading to the demolition of the disputed structure.

He also categorically submitted that the court verdict on the Ayodhya issue would be abided by the BJP. Describing the demolition of the structure on December 6, 1992, as “illegal”, he said nothing should be done by force and every effort should be made for a negotiated settlement by securing the consent of the Muslim community in the matter.

Stating that a “de facto” temple existed at the disputed site, Mr Advani said the Ayodhya became an issue of debate in 1987 after the government facilitated the opening of the gates of the temple.

“The BJP joined the movement as it was another occasion for the party for strengthening nationalism in the country,” he said.

Mr Advani said from 1950 onwards, no one had ever thought of changing a decision of court through agitation.

“However,” he said, “certain Muslim organisations found that the then government succumbed to their agitation against the Supreme Court judgement on the Shah Bano case and we did take into consideration all these things in 1989 when we adopted a resolution on Ayodhya, urging the Rajiv Gandhi government to adopt a positive approach in respect of Ayodhya.”

“It did surprise the BJP that most political parties seemed inclined to support the stand of the Babri Masjid Action Committee in consideration of their vote bank politics,” he said.

Mr Advani said, “When the ruling party was facilitating the construction of temple for consideration of votes, we supported the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, sadhus and sants openly as there was a great resemblance between the Somnath temple movement and the Ayodhya temple movement”.

The Union Home Minister was responding to a question from the Commission’s counsel Anupam Gupta who had asked whether the BJP joined the movement as a reaction to the then government’s policies on the Ayodhya and Shah Bano issue.