Advani, Joshi summoned in Babri Masjid case

Advani, Joshi summoned in Babri Masjid case
AGENCIES

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 23: The Liberhan Commission has summoned Union Home Minister L.K. Advani on December 29 to record his evidence on the December six, 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. The commission has also summoned former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao on December 26 and 27 and Union Human Resource Development minister Murli Manohar Joshi on December 19 and 20.

Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharati were present in Ayodhya on the day of the demolition.

The Commission also directed Maharashtra’s Chief Secretary and Mumbai’s Police Commissioner to produce before the Commission by December 15, 2000, all records relating to the demolition of the mosque.

The Commission today examined Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Uma Bharati, and will continue recording her evidence on December 12.

In an interview to Aaj Tak, Uma Bharati said she would consider resigning from the Cabinet if charges were framed against her by the special CBI court in the demolition case. ‘‘BJP chief Bangaru Laxman need not think over my resignation because we are not the people who remain glued to power,’’ remarkes Bharti.

Reacting to the BJP president’s statement that the party might consider seeking the resignations of Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharati in the event of charges being framed against them, she asserted that she would not resign on the demand of Congressmen.

‘‘I had earlier quit on my own and whenever I feel like, not being in office I quit on my own,’’ she said.

She was of the opinion that there was no strong case against her in the chargesheet filed by CBI. ‘‘The case against me is only regarding my presence rather than about my role in the demolition. I was not active in demolition. Rather I once went ahead pleading with people to refrain from their acts.’’