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Why are you harassing me, Rao asks government counsel in Ayodhya panel

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao Tuesday told the Liberhans Commission that he did not allow the disputed structure in Ayodhya to be demolished because any harm to the structure would have amounted to a violation of court orders and the Constitution.

Rao was continuing his deposition before the Liberhans Commission, which had begun on Monday.

Asked by the government counsel, Lala Ram Gupta, whether he as the former prime minister had personally looked after the Ayodhya cell in the Prime Minister's Office, Rao said, "The PMO deals with all the ministries and I don't know what you mean by this Ayodhya cell."

Rao also pointed out to the commission that he had made attempts to safeguard the disputed structure by positioning paramilitary forces in and around Ayodhya.

Interestingly, Rao admitted that he had stated from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15, 1993: "Jo Ayodhya mein vidhvansh hua, uska nirman hoga' (what has been destroyed in Ayodhya will be rebuilt). "My government had ensured rebuilding of the disputed structure," Rao told the commission.

The former PM appeared frequently irritated by the government counsel's probing questions and at one point told the government counsel, "Bhai mujhe kyon pareshan kar rahe ho? Aapke sawaal kuch zyada hi ho raha hai (why are you harassing me? You are asking me too many questions)."

Rao also clarified that the National Integration Council had extended full support to him for upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. "In fact, the BJP boycotted the NIC meeting when all the parties were discussing the Ayodhya situation."

Asked by the government counsel whether the demolition of disputed structure was planned, Rao said, "It is a matter of fact that the demolition of disputed structure was done according to plans."

Rao told the government counsel that he had always been accessible to all those who wanted their constructive suggestions to be incorporated in the white paper on Ayodhya.

He also pointed out that he had been interacting with sadhus during his tenure as PM and also with leaders from the Muslim community at the height of the Ayodhya controversy.

Asked by Gupta whether he made Swami Sampurnanand Maharaj chairman of the Ramalaya trust, Rao said, "I am not aware of any such trust. And I only know the Shankaracharya trust."

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