The Supreme Court has reviewed criminal conspiracy charges against senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti and 10 others in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
The Supreme Court in its Verdict on Wednesday reinstated criminal conspiracy charges with regards the Babri Masjid issue, against senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti and 10 others in the Babri Masjid demolition case. Excluded from the list was Rajasthan Governor, Kalyan Singh who enjoys constitutional immunity owing to his post. Separate trials were to be clubbed, and henceforth trials would be conducted in the capital of UP only. The case was to be concluded in two years.
Post the verdict, many factions and individuals came forth with their own take on the issue.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has called a BJP core meeting on Wednesday and the Babri Masjid verdict is likely to be a key point of discussion.
The BJP spokesperson, Sambit Patra had stated that the Party would study the verdict in detail.
While many have called for the dismissal of Uma Bharti, the Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, from the Union Cabinet, Union minister Arun Jaitley virtually ruled out possibility. He described the possibility of the ruling having any bearing in selection of candidates for presidential and vice presidential polls as "hypothetical". Speaking on the issue, he said, "This case is going on since 1993. Somehow it is going on and no new situation has arisen. So the situation which was prevailing will continue."
Speaking on the issue, Minister Uma Bharti said that the Party which was behind Emergency and 1984 riots has no right to demand her resignation.
Defendant, Vinay Katiyar too said that Uma Bharti should not be removed from her post and stated that he was willing to go to jail if it meant that a Ram temple is built in Ayodhya. He added that there was no criminal conspiracy as the charges state, and that the CBI was trying to target the accused. He further said that they'd face the Supreme Court's decison. According to CNN-News 18, Katiyar also asked why the BJP leaders should resign from their position.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad was quoted by a report as stating that the CBI is an arm of the government which would say what the government wanted it to say. he called the whole issue a a well-planned political conspiracy. He added that it was a ploy to cancel out any intention to make L.K. Advani the next President. "The VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) and RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) are such dangerous parties, they do not even care about their own people," he was quoted as saying.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Wednesday came to the defence of BJP veterans Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti after the Supreme Court restored conspiracy charges against them in connection with the Babri Masjid demolition case and said that there was no conspiracy as it was a result of the invisible Hindu anger. RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha told ANI that the invisible Hindu anger was the result of pseudo-secularist politics in the country and the anti-Hindu attitude of the then central government.
According to CNN-News 18, Sanjay Raot of Shiv Sena has stated that all the charges should be withdrawn adding it was not a conspiracy but something for national development.
Congress leader Salmaan Anees Soz stated that Uma Bharti, a Cabinet Minister and MM Joshi, the Lok Sabha MP from Kanpur, should resign from their positions.
Congress leader, Kapil Sibal has applauded the decision saying that it was a "substantial step forward in the cause of justice".
The NCP has welcomed the Supreme Court verdict and called for Uma Bharti's dismissal from the Cabinet.
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Commentators are largely dived into those who support the verdict and those who find it unfair. However, many are erring on the side of caution with a 'wait and watch' approach
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 "Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti")
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