NEW DELHI, 9 March 2004 — All India Muslim Personal Law Board, a prominent Muslim organization, has blamed the Narasimha Rao government for adopting a “vacillating attitude” for political consideration and failing to discharge constitutional duties leading to the demolition of the Babri Mosque at Ayodhya on Dec. 6, 1992.
In a written submission to the Liberhan Commission investigating the demolition of mosque. The board also accused the then Kalyan Singh-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of having “direct complicity” in the events that led to the demolition.
Asserting that timely action by the federal government could have saved the mosque, the board said: “The central government of the time failed to discharge its constitutional obligations and adopted vacillating attitude, all out of political consideration.”
“The board feels that the central government is guilty of misfeasance/nonfeasance in discharging its public and constitution duties,” counsel for the board, Yosuf H. Muchhala and Baharul Barqi, said.
On the role of the state government, the board said, “There is enormous evidence on record to show that there was direct complicity in the events that occurred up to and on Dec. 6, 1992.”
Contending that the complicity of Kalyan Singh and the state government at the time was writ large on the face of record, the Muslim body said despite getting a fair opportunity from the commission to explain his role and that of his government, the former chief minister chose to keep away and therefore the commission was “justified” in inferring that he had no explanation to offer.
The board alleged that both the state and federal governments had “willfully neglected” their duty in protecting the structure. “While the BJP, VHP, Bajrang Dal... were all liable for the events that occurred at material time, Narasimha Rao as the prime minister and the central government cannot evade its responsibility but are liable on the principles of misfeasance or in the alternative for non-feasance in public office,” it said.
Ruling out the theory propounded by the BJP and its leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, that the mosque was demolished as a section of the mob became frenzied, the board said “the demolition was a well-planned move” as the leaders have given no explanation as to how in an organized and systematic manner the debris of the demolished mosque was removed and the makeshift temple came up on the site.
An attack on reporters covering the demolition also proved the fact that the event on Dec. 6, 1992 was not sporadic or instantaneous but a part of a well-planned design to carry out a criminal act and destroy evidence.
