Vajpayee also involved in Ram Janma Bhoomi movement:VHP
Senior BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee was involved in the Ram Janma Bhoomi movement which led to the Babri Mosque demolition in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, VHP chief Ashok Singhal said today.
"Ataljee was also involved in the movement. He had been also arrested. I won't say that he was not involved. He had been arrested in Lucknow," Singhal told reporters when asked to comment on the Liberhan Commission report indicting 68 persons including Vajpayee for the Babri Mosque demolition.
Asked about L K Advani's remarks that the demolition day was "saddest day of his life", Singhal said, "I have told him not to make such remarks (maine unku mana kiya hai ki woh aisa naa kahein)."
He said the movement was the "movement of saints" but it is being given a political shape which is "absolutely" wrong. "I want to make it clear that it was a movement of saints who guided it and will continue to do it in future."
The VHP leader claimed that VHP wants a "permanent and stable" bond of love between Hindus and Muslims.
But, also said, only the withdrawal of claims of Muslims on the Ram Janma Bhoomi (in Ayodhya), Krishna Janma Bhoomi (in Mathura) and Kashi Vishwanath and the handing over of these places to Hindus by a law of Parliament can ensure strength for real Hindu-Muslim unity.
"If they want peace in India, a law has to be formulated so that these temples can be constructed," Singhal said.
Singhal rubbished the allegation that Babri Mosque demolition was "pre-planned", saying "it is absolutely incorrect, far from truth."
He claimed that "people", who came from different parts of India, demolished the "structure of the mosque" on December 6, 2009 as court did not pass any order in the long-pending case related to the disputed site. "Hindu community is tolerant but there is some limit of tolerance," he added.
Singhal sharply reacted to the Liberhan Commission report for "indicting" spiritual leader Deoraha Baba among 68 persons saying, "putting his name in the list of indicted persons by the Liberhan Commission is an insult to the whole saint fraternity. His indictment has hurt the entire saint fraternity and his followers. This game of naming by the Commission is potentially provocative to saints and the society."
At the time incident took place, Deoraha Baba was not even alive, he added.
Accusing former Prime Minister late P V Narshimha Rao of lying about the incident, Singhal said "He told the biggest lie of the world by saying that Babri Mosque was demolished while there was actually a full functional temple at the site," he added.
Singhal accused the government of delaying the construction of Ram temple "on pretext of the matter being subjudice", and said it is "again creating annoyance, anger and frustration in the national society".
The VHP leader demanded that the government should pave way for construction of Ram temple at the disputed site in the same way as the construction of Somnath temple had been given a go ahead by a Cabinet decision when late Pandit Jawarlal Nehru was the Prime Minister.
