Liberhan debate unites divided BJP

BJP, plagued by intra-party discord and fight among its second rung leadership for supremacy since the Lok Sabha poll defeat, today seemed to stand united in taking on other political parties during the Liberhan Commission debate on Babri Masjid demolition.

BJP, plagued by intra-party discord and fight among its second rung leadership for supremacy since the Lok Sabha poll defeat, today seemed to stand united in taking on other political parties during the Liberhan Commission debate on Babri Masjid demolition.

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Aware that RSS and other Sangh Pariwar organisations were keenly watching their performance during the debate on the sensitive Babri Masjid-Ram Janambhoomi issue which catapulted BJP to power in Uttar Pradesh in early 1990s, the party leaders were charged up from the word go.

When party President Rajnath Singh initiated the debate on behalf of BJP, party members in Lok Sabha rose up frequently to shout down the other parties.

BJP's Muslim face Shahnawaz Hussain raised a point of order when Congress member Jagadambika Pal rose up to speak. He sought to know if Pal is the same person who has been indicted in the Liberhan Commission report as one of the masterminds of the conspiracy to demolish the structure.

Other BJP members, including Deputy Leader of the party in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, rose up to add voice to Hussain's demand. Rajnath Singh himself "welcomed Kar Sevak" Pal, putting the latter to further embarrassment. Pal was shouted down by BJP members each time he rose to intervene.