Indian leaders linked to Ayodhya mosque destruction

The Indian parliament saw scenes of uproar as politicians debated the leaking of the alleged findings of a commission of inquiry, which accused the former prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the serving opposition leader L K Advani of involvement in the Dec 1992 attack on the Babri Mosque at Ayodhya. Leaders of Mr Advani's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denounced the leak as "shameful". The two men could now face prosecution over their alleged role in the affair, which they both strenuously deny .

The destruction of the mosque in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which Hindus claimed was built on the site of an ancient temple to the god Ram, was a turning point in Indian political history which pitched Hindu and Muslim communities into conflict and catapulted the BJP to power in 1996. The report by Justice M S Liberhan, is yet to be published, but its alleged findings, said to blame the BJP's most senior leaders, were leaked to an Indian newspaper. According to the Indian Express the report allegedly denounces Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani as "pseudo-moderates" who were party to the events of 1992, despite their claims to have been unaware of plans to demolish the mosque.

In evidence to the commission, Mr Advani, now 82, said he had been "pained" by the destruction, which BJP leaders described as a spontaneous action by Hindu protesters.

Justice Liberhan's report, however, allegedly claims it was neither spontaneous nor the outcome of a popular mass movement. Instead, the newspaper claims, Justice Liberhan concluded it was the result of planning by leaders of the BJP, a Hindu cultural organisation and a violent Mumbai-based political group.

A long protest march organised and led by Mr Advani had whipped up emotions and built support for the destruction of the mosque, the report allegedly concludes.

A furious Mr Advani waved a copy of the newspaper in parliament, demanding an inquiry into the leak and angrily denouncing its reported findings.

"If what is written is correct, the conclusions are false. There was no conspiracy, no planning. I was distressed by the demolition of the mosque," he said, adding that he had described the mosque's demolition as the "saddest day of his life".

India | Politics | |