Wont comment on Guptas Babri deposition,matter sub judice: BJP

The BJP on Friday refused to react to the deposition made by the 1990-batch officer Anju Gupta in a special CBI court,who charged L K Advani,along with other BJP leaders,with making provocative speeches on December 6,1992....

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The BJP on Friday refused to react to the deposition made by the 1990-batch officer Anju Gupta in a special CBI court,who charged L K Advani,along with other BJP leaders,with making provocative speeches on December 6,1992.

Most of the BJP leaders said the matter was sub judice and that the 1990-batch officer was now to be cross-examined by Advanis lawyers. I would not like to comment on her deposition at all; the matter is sub judice,and she is now to be cross-examined by Advanis lawyers, said BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad. His colleague,Rajiv Pratap Rudy,added: A court deposition doesnt entail a political rejoinder.

Asked by The Indian Express about the charges against the BJP-RSS leaders when the Babri Masjid was being pulled down,Prasad said the Supreme Court had called it a disputed structure. Prasad also referred to Anju Gupta,in one instance,as Anju Gupta Rizvi. He also said this during a television debate. When reminded that the IPS officers name was Anju Gupta,Prasad said that she was married to a Rizvi.

An RSS spokesperson meanwhile refused to comment on the charges made against Advani and other Sangh leaders saying that he would comment on the issue after seeing the full text of IPS officers statement.

Vinay Katiyar,Uma Bharati and Sadhvi Rithambhara were also mentioned in Guptas deposition on Friday. Bharati,who quit the party she founded and may join the BJP in not too distant future,could not be reached for comments. Katiyar,whos a vice-president in the BJPs new team of office-bearers,said he would not like to comment on Anju Guptas deposition,but added that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party were trying to erect a Babri smarak on the site and that he would get involved with the Ramjanmabhoomi movement again.

Asked about the BJPs course of action after Guptas deposition,Prasad told this paper: A competent team of lawyers will decide the next course of action. He was referring to Guptas cross examination which is slated to be held on April 23.