Muslim leaders seek stern action

“Stern action should be taken against those who have been named by the Liberhan Commission,” said Congress spokesperson and former minister Husain Dalwai on the eve of the Babri demolition anniversary.

Attacking senior BJP leaders named in the report for claiming that they were not involved in the demolition,Dalwai alleged that the Ram Janmabhoomi movement was organised to demolish the mosque.

“It is necessary to implement the Srikrishna Commission report,” said Dalwai,adding that police officers against whom strictures had been passed by the commission had been promoted later. He said the issue needed to be settled and the communal divide in the country needed to be bridged by erecting a temple and a masjid at the site in Ayodhya.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Asim Azmi termed the statements of the government regarding the Liberhan and Srikrishna Commission reports as an “eye wash” and said justice needed to delivered speedily.

“What action has been taken after it?” questioned Azmi,pointing to the report of the commission set up under Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan submitting its report 17 years after it had been set up. He also sought that the masjid be rebuilt at the same spot.

Accusing the government of lacking “will power,” Azmi,who was arrested for allegedly booking tickets for people involved in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts that occurred after the demolitions,but subsequently discharged by the apex court,said the masterminds behind the demolition needed to be punished.

“Those who masterminded the demolition of the Babri Masjid have not been punished,” said Azmi,pointing out that such incidents led to “outside forces” trying to brainwash youth from the minority community that they would not get justice in the country.

Former Congress minister Anis Ahmed too pointed out that the Liberhan report had held BJP leaders responsible for the demolition,and called for action against those indicted. “The guilty should be punished,” he said,ruing that people only got empty assurances in return.