NEW DELHI, 13 September 2004 — Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav yesterday appealed to the Liberhan Commission probing the Babri Masjid demolition case, to summon the two journalists of Time magazine Anita Pratap and Jefferson Penworthy for their “revelations” about the role of former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and others in the demolition of the ancient mosque at Ayodhya.

He claimed the journalists disguised as volunteers had witnessed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders’ involvement in the demolition.

“The two journalists from the New York-based magazine, disguised as Kar Sewaks (volunteers), witnessed the role of Advani, Uma Bharati and others in the demolition and got it published in the magazine’s Dec. 21, 1992 edition,” Lalu said.

“It is the responsibility of the commission to invite them as ‘vital witness’ before the commission”, he told a crowded press conference at Rail Bhawan here.

He said Advani, who denied any role in the demolition of the mosque, Bharati and others allegedly involved in the case should also be called afresh before the commission probing the conspiracy angle of the demolition.

Displaying the copy of the Time, Lalu said that since the commission’s tenure has been extended for another three months, the probe panel should summon them to “reveal” the truth behind the demolition.

A BJP-led mob had razed the 400-year-old mosque to the ground on Dec. 6, 1992.

Accusing the BJP and Sangh Parivar of sidetracking the real issue, Lalu said while father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi had accepted before the imperialists that he had broken the law, leaders of the saffron brigade lack guts to say so as they were “afraid” of prosecution.

Reiterating his statement that Advani was an “absconder” in Jinnah murder case, Lalu said the nation wanted to know the truth from Advani. “There were six accused including Advani in the Jinnah murder case, trial for which were held in Lahore court. All of them became absconder. Advani must clarify as what is the truth”, he said.

The RJD chief said though he raised the issue a week ago, the former Deputy prime minister was yet to respond to it.

Meanwhile, BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu said he did not consider Lalu’s utterances as “worth reacting” to.