On a day when the Liberhan Commission submitted its report to the Prime Minister, an unapologetic BJP reiterated its commitment to Ram Temple in Ayodhya and said that its “leaders had tried to prevent the demolition of the structure” even as it accused the Congress of “hatching a conspiracy” and dared the ruling party “to rebuild Babri Masjid at the original site”.

Caught in a vicious turf-war among second-rung leaders, the BJP rallied behind its leaders, with party president Rajnath Singh questioning the delay in the completion of the report, and senior leaders including Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj meeting Advani through the day.

“Our leaders, accused in the demolition of the disputed structure, co-operated fully with the Commission,” said Rajnath. Added party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad: “All prominent BJP leaders summoned by the Commission deposed before it. As the deputy prime minister, L K Advani also appeared before the Commission for several rounds of cross-examination over a period of more than a week... BJP leaders tried to prevent the demolition of the structure.”

The BJP spokesperson said his party “now expected the report to be tabled in Parliament” but it was for the government to “decide whether to table it in Parliament or go for any other (form of) public debate”.

Prasad also reiterated his party’s commitment to a temple in Ayodhya. “There’s a widespread sentiment that a grand temple be built in Ayodhya and that alone is the solution to this (imbroglio). Dialogue is preferable (to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution to the problem),” he said.

... contd.