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Uma Bharti pleads ignorance
before Liberhan Commission

Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Uma Bharti, who appeared before Justice M S Liberhan on Monday afternoon to give her testimony regarding demolition of the Babri masjid on December 6, 1992, said she did not know what tools were used by the kar sevaks to demolish the disputed structure. She also pleaded ignorance about the attack on mediapersons on the fateful day.

"I was sitting at Ram Katha Kunj Machan with Advaniji and other leaders. I could not make out what tools the kar sevaks had in their hands. When I went to the back of the disputed structure at the instance of Advaniji, I saw two or three kar sevaks who came down at my calling. They had some sort of sticks with them. I do not know whether it was an iron rod or wooden stick," Bharti told the commission.

In response to another question whether the structure could be demolished with bare hands by 50,000 kar sevaks, she pleaded ignorance.

"If the commission so desires it could appoint a sub-committee or another commission to go into this question," she quipped.

She regretted the attack on mediapersons by those present near the disputed structure.

"When I was returning to Lucknow along with Rajmata Scindia from Faizabad on December 7, we came across some journalists. They told me how they were attacked at the masjid site. Some of them were badly injured. Till then, I did not know about the attack on media persons."

"One person told me in detail about the attack on mediapersons during the flight from Lucknow to Delhi. Many mediapersons came up to me and I kept apologising throughout the flight," she said.

She denied going to the disputed site prior to July 1992. "I went for the first time in July 1992," she said.

Asked if the barricades had been set up to regulate the flow of pilgrims or prevent the smuggling of explosives, Bharti said she went as a pilgrim and not to investigate the security arrangements at the site.

"Now that the disputed structure is not there, flow of pilgrims is much more smooth and even the entrance has been changed," she said.

Her response to majority of the question was limited to 'I don't know. I am not aware of it'.

Bharti would continue her deposition on Tuesday.

Bharti was due to appear before the Commission in the forenoon but chose to come only after 1400 hours (IST). During the course of her deposition, she complained about the non-functioning of air conditioners.

"This AC system is supposed to keep the place warm, but I am feeling cold," she said.

"Please note that I have been called as a witness, not as an accused," she told mediapersons before speeding off.

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