Chidambaram parries questions on Liberhan panel report

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday parried all questions pertaining to Liberhan Commission report on 1992 Babri Masjid demolition and said he would comment only after he had read the report.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday parried all questions pertaining to Liberhan Commission report on 1992 Babri Masjid demolition and said he would comment only after he had read the report.

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"I can talk at great length on the Liberhan Commission and I intend to talk at a great length. But I have not read the report and so I have nothing to say," he told reporters while presenting the monthly report on his ministry.

Asked when the Commission report would be tabled in Parliament, he said "I have not read the report. When I returned to Delhi this afternoon, I have found that a huge...you can write that as h capital, u capital, g capital, e capital bag has arrived with the report. I have not opened the report. That is the truth or the whole truth. When I will read the report, I will respond."

The entire hall burst into peals of laughter when he said "I am a pretty slow reader. Only when I read the report, you can expect a comment from me."

He was asked how soon he would be able to finish reading the report.

Justice M S Liberhan Commission, who had headed the Commission of Inquiry, submitted his report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday after 17 years.

As per rules, the Government has to place the report and the Action Taken Report in Parliament within six months of submission.