New Delhi, December 7
The debate on Liberhan Commission report on the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, in the Lok Sabha today brought out major differences on handling the issue in almost all political parties.
BJP president Rajnath Singh remained unapologetic saying, “Wo mandir tha, mandir hai aur mandir rahega.” Amidst chants of Jai Shri Ram from the BJP benches, he accused the Congress of complicity by facilitating Shilanyas, opening the Masjid locks and not dismissing Kalyan Singh government in time.
The debate, initiated by CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta, was inconclusive today. The CPI leader upheld the Liberhan’s assessment of the RSS/BJP conspiracy being responsible for the demolition of the masjid. He did not spare the Congress either. He blamed the Centre for turning a blind eye to the hatching of the conspiracy.
The Congress had a hard time when both, BJP president Rajnath Singh and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav as also Janata Dal (U) president Sharad Yadav reminded them how the idol was smuggled into the Masjid when the Congress ruled both at the Centre and in UP, how the Masjid was unlocked and puja started inside under the Congress regime and how Shilanyas (laying of foundation stone) was also done while the Congress was ruling both the Centre and the state.
Union Minister for Minority and Corporate Affairs Salman Khursheed came to the defence of a beleagured Congress. He called upon all to understand the new spirit of Ayodhya and work for UP’s development.
Salman conceded that “there might have been minor discrepancies here or there “But you cannot junk the entire report” and insisted that “Liberhan never mentioned any conspiracy on the part of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It just says that he must be aware of what was transpiring.”
