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Masjid demolition illegal: Advani

Deposing before the Liberhan commission probing the demolition of the Babri mosque in New Delhi, Advani said, ''When we passed our resolution in Ayodhya in 1989, all these developments were taken into consideration. The ruling party was facilitating the construction of the temple purely for vote bank politics, then why should we have not believed whatever the Vishwa Hindu Parishad was doing and not supported them openly.''

''If the Shah Bano episode had not taken place, if the government had not actively participated or facilitated the 'shilanynas' or opened the Ram temple gates, may be this would not have weighed with us when we were thinking of the Ayodhya resolution,'' he said.

''We did not launch the movement. It was done by the VHP. In fact, the Government of India was more active in following and facilitating the movement. The 1989 campaign of the ruling party was launched from Ayodhya and the then Congress president spoke about giving Ram Rajya to the country,'' he pointed out.

Disassociating from the VHP's claim that it would go ahead with the temple construction whatever may be the court's verdict in the matter, Advani clarified that that BJP was committed to abide by the court's decision.

''Occasionally, VHP leaders have said that irrespective of the court verdict they would proceed with the Ayodhya movement, but as far as the BJP is concerned we have always said that the judicial order is binding on all citizens unless the legislature decides otherwise.''

The BJP leader said that when the VHP leaders made an announcement regarding the temple construction, he felt odd as a makeshift temple already exists in Ayodhya.

Quoting the court's decision to maintain the status quo in Ayodhya, Advani wondered why those interested in the temple were making statements of this nature.

Advani clarified that for the BJP it was a political movement, unlike the VHP, which considered it religious.

''We contributed on our own to the movement. But we are committed to the rule of law, the Constitution of India and the court's decision is binding.''

Hailing the secular credentials of the Constitution, the BJP leader said he was not averse to political parties taking up religious matters as long as ''there is no attempt by any religious group to control the state. This would not be allowed''.

Describing the demolition of the Babri mosque as an ''illegal and forceful action'', the BJP leader said he fully endorsed former home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's view that the Ayodhya issue should be resolved peacefully by securing the consent of the Muslim community. He said a solution of the Ayodhya issue could be found only in the spirit of Patel's vision.

Stating that during the Ayodhya movement, he had emphasised that nothing should be changed by force, the BJP leader said, ''I felt extremely distressed when the structure was demolished in 1992 because that was an illegal and forceful action.''

But he emphasised that the Babri mosque was abandoned by Muslims since 1936, with no namaz being offered there and by the virtue of the court's injunction a temple was existing in Ayodhya since 1950.

However, when asked whether any attempt was made for a negotiated settlement of the Ayodhya issue, Advani said one ''sincere'' move was made by Chandra Shekhar when prime minister.

Advani blamed the V P Singh government for not fulfilling its promise of finding the solution to the vexed problem within four months, though informal attempts were made.

Refuting the charge that the Ayodhya movement was launched by the BJP to counter the Mandal announcement of the Singh government, the home minister said the Mandal announcement could not be regarded as a catalyst for the Rath Yatra.

''In fact, the biggest contribution to the Ayodhya movement in the 1990s was the sublimation of all caste tensions and feelings as all sections of the society participated in it. Though not intended, the Rath Yatra did combat the effects of the Mandal announcement, intended to appeal to a particular vote bank.''

UNI

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