Provocative speeches led to Babri demolition: CBI

The CBI counsel stated the provocative speeches of BJP leaders egged on karsevaks to demolish the Babri mosque.

The CBI told the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday that "provocative speeches" by eight leaders, including LK Advani, MM Joshi and Uma Bharti, worked as an "encouragement" to the kar sewaks to pull down the disputed structure at Ayodhya.

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CBI counsel PK Chaubey, while arguing the case, stated that Bharti kept reminding the people, through the public address system at the demolition of each dome, of BJP's promise to build the Ram temple for "cheap political gain".

He quoted the statements of the witnesses Iqbal, Hashim Ansari, Munna, Mohammed Shubrati, Mobinullah and a lady journalist, Renu Mittal, to highlight that all the eight leaders remained present at the Ram Katha kunaj from 10 am to 6.30 pm, till the structure was pulled down on December 6, 1992.

On the demolition of each of the domes, sweets were distributed among the saints and their followers present there to celebrate their achievement, he contended.

Terming the address by these leaders on the loud speakers as "provocative speeches," the CBI counsel said that it worked as an "encouragement" for the kar sewaks, who pulled down the structure in response.

After hearing the arguments, the court fixed January 5 as the next date of hearing on the criminal revisions, challenging the special Rae Bareli Court order discharging Advani in the Ayodhya demolition case while issuing summoning orders against seven others, including former Union Minister Joshi.

Justice YR Tripathi passed the order on the revision petitions filed by Joshi, Bharti, Vinay Katiyar, Sadhvi Rithambara, Ashok Singhal and VH Dalmiya, seeking directions for dropping the proceedings against them as had been done in the case of Advani.