Ayodhya issue: CBI trains guns at Uma

CBI told Allahabad HC that BJP leaders encouraged people to demolish the Babri mosque.

Senior BJP leaders including Uma Bharti had "encouraged" people to demolish the disputed structure at Ayodhya, the CBI on Wednesday told the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court.

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Arguing before the court, CBI Counsel PK Chaubey contended that there were "shouts of joy" at the demolition of each of the three domes of the disputed structure and BJP leaders, including Uma Bharti, "encouraged" people.

There were no attempts to dissuade the people from carrying out the demolition, he told the court.

Chaubey's contention came while advancing arguments on the five criminal revision petitions challenging the special Rae Bareli Court order, by which it had discharged BJP President LK Advani, but directed issuance of summons against former Union Minister MM Joshi and six others in the Ayodhya demolition case on September 19, 2003.

As Chaubey's arguments remained inconclusive, Justice YR Tripathi posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday.

The special Rae Bareli Court had discharged Advani giving him the benefit of the doubt, but had ordered issuance of summons to Joshi, Uma Bharti, Sadhvi Ritambhara, former state BJP President Vinay Katiyar and VHP leaders Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore and Vishnu Hari Dalmiya in the matter.

Later, all the six accused persons filed criminal revisions challenging the Rae Bareli Court order. One Haji Mehboob has also filed a criminal revision against the discharge of Advani.

The High Court had stayed the proceedings at the Rae Bareli Court and summoned the relevant records.