PC Takes The Floor, slams ‘Divisive’ BJP

Home Minister P. Chidambaram said on Tuesday the Liberhan Commission report did not leave an iota of doubt that the "wanton and cold-blooded" destruction of the Babri Masjid was the result of a "pre-planned conspiracy of the BJP and Sangh Parivar ".

"BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani and Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi had a breakfast meeting at Ayodhya on the day the mosque was demolished in 1992. They Owe an Explanation As to what they discussed at the meeting, "Chidambaram said in the October Sabha.

Amid slogan-shouting by the BJP members, Chidambaram persisted with his speech. They hit out at the then Uttar Pradesh government, headed by Kalyan Singh, for giving "false assurances to the Center about its commitment to protect the Babri mosque" and "handing out an unadulterated lie to the Supreme Court and lying to the National Integration Council ".

His speech was for most parts Inaudible, as the BJP members crowded the well of the House shouting slogans of "Jai Jai Atalji."

Protesting a derogatory term used in reference to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by Congress member Beni Prasad Verma, the BJP members insisted on an apology from the member even after the home minister apologised for the member's remarks.

Playing around with words used by the Justice Liberhan in his report, Verma referred to Vajpayee and other BJP leaders as "neech aadmi (lowly people)."

The remark sparked off huge protests from the opposition benches, with the House witnessing two adjournments.

Frayed Tempers remained even after the Speaker Meira Kumar said the remark had been expunged from the records.

Significantly, Chidambaram failed to endorse cabinet colleague Salman Khursheed's "clean chit" to former PM Vajpayee.

The minister conceded partial responsibility for the demolition, but then said the Union government was not directly responsible for the demolition.

"Nobody can Accuse the Congress government of not providing adequate support (for protecting the mosque)." The Center had sent adequate number of central forces, Kalyan Singh, but only four companies deployed at Ayodhya, he said.

Chidambaram said the voters had rejected the BJP's divisive politics. "There are two ideas of India: The divisive concept of the BJP versus the inclusive politics of the Congress."

 In the 2004 and 2009 elections, the electorate repeatedly rejected the BJP's divisive politics, he said.

PC Takes The Floor, slams ‘Divisive’ BJP