BJP hints at govt reluctance to discuss Liberhan report

BJP on Tuesday said that it was prepared for a debate in Parliament on the Liberhan Commission report and hinted that the government was shying away by seeking a postponement on sly pretexts like not having a Hindi version.

BJP on Tuesday said that it was prepared for a debate in Parliament on the Liberhan Commission report and hinted that the government was shying away by seeking a postponement on sly pretexts like not having a Hindi version.

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"Yesterday evening, Lok Sabha Speaker called me and said (SP Chief) Mulayam Singh Yadav had told her that the Hindi version of the report was not available and he could not participate in the debate without reading it," BJP Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told reporters.

"The Speaker said the debate will have to be postponed as the government has expressed its inability to provide the Hindi version before Thursday," she added.

Swaraj said she told Speaker Meira Kumar that this issue (issue of availability of the Hindi version of the report ) should have been discussed in the last Business Advisory Committee Meeting of the Lok Sabha when December 1 and 2 were fixed as the dates for a debate on the Liberhan Commission report.

BJP leaders feel Congress and parties like SP did not want the debate to take place before December 6, on which the Babri disputed structure was demolished 17 years ago.

"It appears the government is wary of a discussion. The Budget department of Parliament translates into Hindi the whole Union budget within a day. Why is it taking so long for this report?" asked a BJP leader.

Though the final date for the debate will be decided in the next BAC meeting, December 7 is the tentative date.