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NEW DELHI: India's parliament was in uproar on Monday over a leaked government report blaming Hindu nationalist opposition leaders for their role in the destruction of an ancient mosque that sparked widespread riots.
Angry lawmakers twice forced the adjournment of parliament and opposition leaders shouted 'shame, shame' in the house, blaming the government for leaking the report.
Mobs of Hindu militants tore down a 16-century mosque in the north Indian town of Ayodhya in 1992, claiming it stood on the birthplace of their god-king Rama. It led to clashes between Hindus and Muslims that left hundreds dead across the country.
The Indian Express newspaper on Monday published what is said were excerpts of the commission's report, which said leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had played a part in planning the destruction of the mosque.
Among those mentioned in the report were former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and current leader of opposition, Lal Krishna Advani.
The government would not confirm the report, but if true, the conclusions would be another blow to the main opposition BJP, which has been plagued by squabbling after defeats in federal and state elections.
It would also takes pressure off the ruling Congress government, which has so far faced a concerted opposition in a parliament session that began last week and was supposed to debate issues such as rising food prices and policy moves on deregulating commodity prices.
The adjournments have further delayed government plans to debate reforms like increasing foreign investment in the insurance and pension sectors.
The Ayodhya mosque incident was blamed for further driving a wedge between the two communities and for the increasing radicalization of Muslims, who make up around 13 per cent of the population.
The report was submitted to the government in July. The government has said it would table the report in parliament in the current session.
'I refrain to comment...on the contents,' Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram told parliament over shouts from
opposition lawmakers. He said the newspaper report was 'unfortunate'.
Both Advani and Vajpayee have said the demolition was a spontaneous act and have denied they orchestrated the mobs.
'If what is written is correct, the conclusions are false and ridiculous. There was no conspiracy, no planning. I myself have told the commission it was the saddest day of my life,' Advani told parliament, holding up a copy of the newspaper.
Angry lawmakers twice forced the adjournment of parliament and opposition leaders shouted 'shame, shame' in the house, blaming the government for leaking the report.
Mobs of Hindu militants tore down a 16-century mosque in the north Indian town of Ayodhya in 1992, claiming it stood on the birthplace of their god-king Rama. It led to clashes between Hindus and Muslims that left hundreds dead across the country.
The Indian Express newspaper on Monday published what is said were excerpts of the commission's report, which said leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had played a part in planning the destruction of the mosque.
Among those mentioned in the report were former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and current leader of opposition, Lal Krishna Advani.
The government would not confirm the report, but if true, the conclusions would be another blow to the main opposition BJP, which has been plagued by squabbling after defeats in federal and state elections.
It would also takes pressure off the ruling Congress government, which has so far faced a concerted opposition in a parliament session that began last week and was supposed to debate issues such as rising food prices and policy moves on deregulating commodity prices.
The adjournments have further delayed government plans to debate reforms like increasing foreign investment in the insurance and pension sectors.
The Ayodhya mosque incident was blamed for further driving a wedge between the two communities and for the increasing radicalization of Muslims, who make up around 13 per cent of the population.
The report was submitted to the government in July. The government has said it would table the report in parliament in the current session.
'I refrain to comment...on the contents,' Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram told parliament over shouts from
opposition lawmakers. He said the newspaper report was 'unfortunate'.
Both Advani and Vajpayee have said the demolition was a spontaneous act and have denied they orchestrated the mobs.
'If what is written is correct, the conclusions are false and ridiculous. There was no conspiracy, no planning. I myself have told the commission it was the saddest day of my life,' Advani told parliament, holding up a copy of the newspaper.
NEW DELHI: The Indian government on Tuesday presented to parliament the findings of a long-delayed inquiry into the 1992 demolition of a mosque that triggered deadly religious riots.
The Liberhan commission report was tabled after details of its conclusions – apparently implicating top leaders of the Hindu nationalist opposition in the destruction – were leaked on Monday, triggering uproar in the lower house.
Bharatiya Janata Party MPs said the leak had been politically orchestrated to embarrass their leadership, including Atal Behari Vajpayee – a former prime minister – and L.K. Advani, the party’s current hardline leader.
The destruction of the 16th century mosque by Hindu fanatics in the northern town of Ayodhya triggered some of the worst Hindu-Muslim violence since the partition of the Indian sub-continent in 1947.
Around 2,000 people were killed in the communal riots which left an enormous tear in India’s secular fabric.
Devout Hindus believe the mosque was built on the ruins of a temple marking the birthplace of the Hindu warrior god Ram.
The inquiry commission was headed by Manmohan Singh Liberhan, who was a sitting High Court judge when he was appointed in 1992 but has since retired.
It was originally expected to submit its report within three months, but in the end it took 17 years with nearly 50 extensions to its mandate.
As well as being one of India’s longest-serving inquiries, it was also among the most expensive, consuming a reported 80 million.
The Liberhan commission report was tabled after details of its conclusions – apparently implicating top leaders of the Hindu nationalist opposition in the destruction – were leaked on Monday, triggering uproar in the lower house.
Bharatiya Janata Party MPs said the leak had been politically orchestrated to embarrass their leadership, including Atal Behari Vajpayee – a former prime minister – and L.K. Advani, the party’s current hardline leader.
The destruction of the 16th century mosque by Hindu fanatics in the northern town of Ayodhya triggered some of the worst Hindu-Muslim violence since the partition of the Indian sub-continent in 1947.
Around 2,000 people were killed in the communal riots which left an enormous tear in India’s secular fabric.
Devout Hindus believe the mosque was built on the ruins of a temple marking the birthplace of the Hindu warrior god Ram.
The inquiry commission was headed by Manmohan Singh Liberhan, who was a sitting High Court judge when he was appointed in 1992 but has since retired.
It was originally expected to submit its report within three months, but in the end it took 17 years with nearly 50 extensions to its mandate.
As well as being one of India’s longest-serving inquiries, it was also among the most expensive, consuming a reported 80 million.
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