SP cries foul over Sonia’s new-found love for Babri

“It was the weak, wavering and confusing stand of Congress leaders with respect to the mosque that led to its demolition,” said Ahmed Hassan, leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council.

Hassan said it was during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure as Prime Minister that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad was allowed to lay the foundation for building the Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya on November 9, 1989.

He said that although Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav had high regard for Sonia Gandhi when she decided to take active part in politics, her statement regarding the mosque had hurt Muslims and SP workers.

Sonia had said in Hyderabad on Friday that months before being assassinated, Rajiv Gandhi had told her that they would have to kill him first if an attempt was made to touch the mosque. Hassan said, “The BJP and the Congress are equally responsible for the demolition of the mosque.”

The concern of Samajwadi Party leaders to project themselves as the only party that cared for Muslim sentiments was a political necessity in the wake of articulation of pro-Muslim views by Congress leaders, including Sonia.

Senior Congress leaders like Madhav Rao Scindia and Arjun Singh have already made statements that the party should apologise to Muslims for the demolition of the mosque.

Now Sonia Gandhi has followed suit.