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The Justice M S Liberhan Commission inquiring into the events leading to the demolition of the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya directed the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Thursday to place before it all records pertaining to its role in the matter.
The commission passed the order after its counsel accused VHP president Vishnu Hari Dalmia of non-cooperation.
Issuing notice to Dalmia, Justice Liberhan directed him to procure all records within three weeks after Dalmia claimed he could 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 for the commission along with an affidavit that there are no other records left," he said.
The commission clarified that records relating to resolutions, action taken or proposed, negotiations and any book on the subject be placed before it to help the inquiry.
The direction followed the commission's counsel Anupam Gupta's complaint that Dalmia as a witness was not cooperating in the proceedings.
"I am forced to state that the witness [Dalmia] is not co-operating in his deposition and I would request the commission to summon the VHP to provide comprehensive records pertaining to the Ayodhya issue," Gupta said.
Dalmia described the events of December 6, 1992, as a festival where people had gathered to perform kar seva. When the counsel asked whether he was referring to December 6 before the demolition or after, the VHP chief merely said the 'festival' was on that very day.
"The 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.
Dalmia had told the commission in his deposition that the Babri Masjid had been pulled down by 'frustrated' karsevaks despite appeals by VHP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders to desist from doing so.
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