Liberhan too refused to say anything on the report. “I have submitted my report to the Government. It is now for it to decide whatever it wants.”

Liberhan had also been mandated to probe the role played by then Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, his ministerial colleagues, officials of the UP government and by individuals, agencies and organisations in bringing down the structure. He was also tasked to probe deficiencies in security measures and the attack on mediapersons on the day of the demolition.

Set up on December 16, 1992 by the Central government, the Liberhan Commission received as many as 48 extensions and was criticised by many Muslim organisations and NGOs for failing to submit its report in a time-bound manner.

Asked what took him so long, Liberhan said: “I have written the reasons in my report. Beyond that I will not say anything.” He did blame the “non-cooperative attitude” of some people for the delay but took no names. He said he was “independent” and “relieved” after submitting the report. “I didn’t have any pressure from anybody.”

To a question whether he feared that the report would be used for political considerations, Liberhan said: “I am not afraid of anything. It is for the people of this country to take note of that.”

Among those who appeared before the Commission to depose were former PMs Rao and V P Singh, BJP leaders Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Vinay Katiyar, former UP Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, Congress leader Arjun Singh, Uma Bharati, VHP leaders V H Dalmia, Ashok Singhal, former Union Cabinet Secretary Prabhat Kumar, then Home Secretary Madhav Godbole, senior civil and police officers, civilians and journalists.

... contd.