Mulayam puts Babri fears to rest

The board has asked Yadav to file an affidavit on the review petition pending in the Supreme Court to ensure that Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani is not absolved of conspiracy charges in the Babri demolition case. It also demanded that a fresh notification be issued in the Ayodhya case and that the case be shifted from the Rae Bareli court back to Lucknow.

The chief minister, on his part, assured the Muslim community and the personal law board, in particular, that there was no change in his stand regarding the Babri issue but said he was treading cautiously this time because he did not wish to ‘‘fall into the trap of communal forces’’.

The chief minister tried to counter charges of his leaning towards the BJP saying: ‘‘There cannot be a bigger abuse than to say I have joined hands with communal forces. Muslims should not doubt my intentions and my determination to fight against communal forces. I will never compromise on my principles — whether my government runs for three months or three years.’’

Addressing a seminar organised by the board on the issue on Sunday, senior member Syed Shahabuddin said Muslims expected the Mulayam Singh government to protect their interests on the Ayodhya issue.

‘‘The government should take necessary steps to ensure the trial of L.K. Advani for conspiracy and we also expect this government to issue a fresh notification, bringing the Babri trial back to Lucknow from Rae Bareli. The chief minister should also initiate steps to acquire the temple construction material before the final verdict,’’ he said.

‘‘For the VHP, it is a tool for deriving political mileage. There is talk of bringing legislation for temple construction but Muslims will definitely challenge any such move because we are committed to respecting the court verdict.”