M A I N   N E W S

Liberhan panel seeks records
Directive to VHP on Ayodhya issue

New Delhi, August 30
The Liberhan Commission of inquiry today directed the VHP to place before it all records pertaining to its role on the Ayodhya issue on an allegation by commission’s counsel that VHP president Vishnu Hari Dalmia was not cooperating in his deposition.

Issuing notice to Mr Dalmia, who deposed as a witness before the commission, Justice M.S. Liberhan directed him to procure all records within three weeks after Mr Dalmia in his deposition claimed he did not recollect certain events.

“I have no doubt that the VHP shall procure all records which are even remotely connected to Ayodhya and would throw some light on the issue for the commission along with an affidavit that there were no other records left,” he said.

The commission in its order said: “It may be classified that records relating to resolutions, action taken, action proposed, negotiations and any book on the issue be placed before it which would otherwise assist the commission to arrive at a right conclusion”.

The direction followed commission’s counsel Anupam Gupta’s complaints that Mr Dalmia as a witness was not cooperating in the proceedings.

“I am forced to state that the witness (Mr Dalmia) is not cooperating in his deposition and I would request the commission to summon the VHP to provide comprehensive and entire records pertaining to the Ayodhya issue,” Mr Gupta said.

Mr Dalmia described the event of December 6, 1992, as a festival where people had gathered to perform “kar seva”.

When the commission’s counsel asked him whether he was referring to December 6 before the demolition or after the event, the VHP president said the festival was on that day.

“Festival was on December 6 because “kar seva” was to be performed. But what actually happened was not envisaged earlier. The circumstances for this have already been explained in my written statement before the commission on August 3,” he said. PTI

‘Names of top MP leaders’ in cash book

Bhopal, August 30
The controversy over the alleged payoffs by a liquor baron has taken a dramatic turn with Lokayukta Faizanuddin’s disclosure that the seized cash book carries the names of several top brass of the ruling and the opposition parties in Madhya Pradesh.

However, he pointed out that the photocopied list of “beneficiaries”, given by the IT Department to the Lokayukta omitted many prominent names, which otherwise figured in the cash book. UNI