Babri demolition saddest development in Indian history: Pranab Mukherjee

The Demolition of the Babrid Masjid was the "saddest" development in the history of India, Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said today.

"We have to take vows for not allowing the recurrence of such events, which tarnished the secular credentials of our country, in future," he told PTI at the end of Congress party's two-day 'chintan shibir'.

Mukherjee, also the president of the West Bengal unit of the party, termed the demolition of Masjid as "very unfortunate".

The chintan shibir was organised here to formulate strategy for the 2011 assembly elections in the state. The Babri Masjid was demolished 17 years ago on this day in 1992.