NEW DELHI, June 20: A rebel leader of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday alleged Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other top party leaders conspired to demolish the Babri mosque in 1992.
Kalyan Singh, former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, said at a press conference in Lucknow that the demolition of the mosque by thousands of Hindu zealots was part of a “well-planned conspiracy”, a PTI report said.
“Vajpayee, Advani, Joshi, Rajju Bhaiya and Sudarshan were part of a conspiracy which led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid,” Mr Singh said — referring to Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and senior Hindu radical leaders, Rajju Bhaiya and Sudarshan.
Mr Singh was kicked out of the BJP two years ago for launching a tirade against the prime minister.
The 16th-century Babri mosque was pulled down on Dec 6, 1992.
Recalling the events of that day Kalyan Singh, who has since formed a separate political party, said all senior BJP leaders, including Mr Advani and Mr Joshi, and functionaries of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a right-wing Hindu outfit, were near the mosque.
As per the statements of the Hindu activists gathered at the site, all these leaders had inspected shovels, axes and other instruments, allegedly used for the demolition of the mosque, he said.
Mr Singh alleged the leaders first incited the crowds by their fiery speeches and then allowed them to demolish the structure.
While Advani, Joshi and some other BJP leaders are facing charges in court over their roles in the demolition, there is no legal case against Vajpayee, who was not present at Ayodhya on the day of the demolition.
“I was chief minister but they kept everything under wrap and even forced me to sign on the dotted line,” Mr Singh alleged — referring to a written commitment he gave to the Supreme Court that the mosque would be protected.
“Under the assurance of senior BJP and RSS (another Hindu outfit) leaders I had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that the mosque would be protected... But all of them betrayed me,” he added.
He said the BJP should now “come out with facts and tell the people the true story behind demolition of Babri mosque”. —AFP