Vinay Katiyar calls for an investigation into Congress’ role in Babri affair (File)
Ayodhya:
After being acquitted by a CBI court in the Babri case, BJP chief Vinay Katiyar denied allegations of involvement in the conspiracy to bring down the structure.
Vinay Katiyar alleged that the mosque was demolished by Congress to overthrow his party governments in the states.
The IWC Special Court on Wednesday acquitted the 32 defendants, including BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi and Uma Bharti, of involvement in the destruction of Babri Masjid 28 years ago.
In a 2,300-page judgment, the IWC court said there was no conclusive evidence against the accused being part of a plot to bring down the structure in Ayodhya.
Reacting to the judgment, Vinay Katiyar told the PTI news agency that no “conspiracy meeting” had taken place at his home on December 5, 1992, a day before the mosque was demolished.
“Only symbolic Karseva was planned, ”he said.
“Advani ji had arrived in Ayodhya that night and was staying at Janki Mahal. As he was my main manager, I invited him to dinner at my residence. We had dinner and chatted a ‘sanketik karseva‘(symbolic Karseva) the next day. We have decided that no karseva will be allowed near Babri Masjid, ”he added.
Vinay Katiyar alleged that Babri Masjid was demolished by Congress.
“Babri Masjid was demolished by Congress and we were charged. It was a conspiracy by Congress to overthrow our governments in the states by demolition,” Vinay Katiyar said, adding that they never wanted to demolish the structure.
He also claimed that a conspiracy had been created to mix up “unknown elements” among the “karsevaks”.
They provoked and began to demolish the structure, he said, claiming that they only asked the “karsevaks” to bring sand and water from Saryu for a symbolic “karseva”.
We couldn’t figure out how people got out of hand, he said.
Vinay Katiyar demanded that an investigation be opened to probe the role of Congress and its leaders in the demolition of the mosque.
Asked about the Gyanvapi Mosque in Kashi and the Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura, the head of the BJP said, “No other mosque will be affected now. May peace reign in the country.”
