As a “tense” Ayodhya turns into a fortress on the 22nd anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, a verdict is still awaited in the cases related to the incident in which senior BJP leaders, including L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti, are the accused.
There are currently two cases pending trial in connection with the demolition of the disputed structure– one at the Raebareli court and the other before the special judge (Ayodhya Prakaran) at Lucknow.
As many as 50 witnesses have already deposed in the Raebareli special court in connection with the case, though 48 more are yet to appear. In the special court at Lucknow, as many as 143 witnesses had recorded their statements.
Besides Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharti, BJP leaders Vinay Katiyar and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders Ashok Singhal have been tried at the Raebareli court for their role in the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. BJP MP Lallo Singh was among 23 accused in the case currently pending trial with the special judge (Ayodhya Prakaran) at Lucknow.
While the case at Raebareli contained charges like inciting violence, creating enmity among different groups on the grounds of religion, unlawful assembly and delivering provocative speeches, the case at Lucknow mainly harps on the conspiracy angle behind the demolition, the lawyers said.
The lawyers associated with the cases say that a verdict does not seem possible in the “very near future”. “The cases have been moving at a snail’s pace. A large number of witnesses are yet to be examined. It will certainly take some time before we can expect a verdict,” said a lawyer associated with one of the cases.
“I do not think that there will be a decision during my lifetime,” said 93-year-old Hashim Ansari, the oldest litigant in the case who recently announced to withdraw from it. Several witnesses and accused people in the cases have died during the pendency of the trial.