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Use of force was not aim of Ayodhya movement: Advani

Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani on Wednesday told the Liberahan Commission that the Ayodhya movement was not aimed at building the Ram temple by using force, but to convert a "de-facto" temple into a "de-jure" temple under the process of law or by a mutual agreement between the Hindus and Muslims.

"The movement and slogans (by karsevaks) have to be seen in the background of the whole controversy, which emphasises that the de-facto temple needs to be converted to a de-jure temple by process of law," Advani said.

"This can be achieved either by mutual agreement, court order or by a legislation, but nothing has to be done by force or any illegal manner," he added.

Deposing as a witness for the second time before the commission, which is probing the events that led to the demolition of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992, Advani said the movement was not "just for building a temple but to build it at a place where Lord Ram was believed to have been born".

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