Babri issue rocks Parliament
Opposition stalls proceedings
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 6 — Pandemonium in Parliament marked the seventh anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid today with opposition members, challenging the continuance of the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, and two other BJP ministers charge-sheeted in the demolition case, stalling proceedings in both Houses.

Members of the Congress and other opposition parties, demanding that Mr Advani along with Union Ministers, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and Ms Uma Bharti be kept out of government till the case against them was disposed of, after two earlier adjournments forced the adjournment of the Lok Sabha for the day without any official business being transacted.

There were noisy scenes for about half-an-hour in the Rajya Sabha too, when opposition members took strong objection to remarks by Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Nirupam who claimed that a temple in the disputed site was demolished by Mughal emperor Babar. Order in the House was later restored and business continued.

The Congress and other opposition parties stalled the proceedings in the Lok Sabha on two occasions questioning the propriety of the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, to reply to a question on the demolition at Ayodhya. They alleged that since Mr Advani was one of the accused in the case, he should not reply to the question.

Several members belonging to the BJP and the Shiv Sena protested the remarks which led to a din in the House. As members from the Treasury Benches raised their voice, some of the opposition members rushed to the well of the House.

Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi made repeated requests to the members to remain seated and also to return to their seats. However, the members defied his requests to allow the proceedings to continue. As the din continued the Speaker adjourned the House at about 12.15 pm till 2 pm.

As soon as the House re-assembled at 2 pm, the issue was again raised by the Opposition. Mr Basudev Acharya (CPM) and Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi (Congress) said since the Home Minister and three other ministers were accused in the case, they should not occupy the positions till the case was disposed of.

The Congress Chief Whip, Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said since the Home Minister himself was involved, the CBI was not seriously investigating the case.

When the Speaker called Mr Anant Ram Geete of the Shiv Sena to express his views there were vociferous protests from the Opposition Benches over his contention that Babar was an invader. Amidst din he said Babar had demolished many places of worship.

As the Opposition tried to drown his voice in the din and there were shouts and counter shouts, Mr Balayogi adjourned the House till 4 pm.

Pandemonium prevailed for half an hour in the Rajya Sabha today with heated exchanges between the Opposition and some BJP and Shiv Sena members over a remark about the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya seven years ago.

The row was sparked during zero hour by a remark from the Shiv Sena member, Sanjay Nirupam, who said the disputed structure was a Ram temple prior to being demolished by Babar during an attack.

Chairperson Krishan Kant intervened to expunge the remarks and replies made by Mr Nirupam and opposition members and said the issue had been raised by opposition leader, Dr Manmohan Singh, just to ensure that an incident like the one that happened at Ayodhya was not allowed to happen again.

Mr Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI), Mr Nilotpal Basu (CPM) and Mr Pranab Mukherjee (Congress) said the entire House was being hijacked by one member who had the ‘audacity’ to go against the ruling of the chairperson. They alleged that Mr Nirupam was treating himself as above the rules of the House and said this should not be tolerated.

Earlier, raising the issue, opposition leader Dr Manmohan Singh said an inquiry into the December 6 incident should be completed and the guilty should be punished. Such incidents should not be allowed to happen again. He regretted that even seven years after the incident, the guilty had not been punished and the trial court was not being allowed to function.

Mrs Shabana Azmi (nom) said if the guilty were allowed to go scot-free then an impression would go round that in this country there were two kinds of law.

Mr Venkaiah Naidu (BJP) urged a speedy trial for those involved in the December 6 incident. The law should be allowed to take its course. It was immaterial which party was in power but some solution should come out. Nobody had intended to demolish the structure. Nor had any body claimed responsibility for it, he said and added that truth must come out.

Mr Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) said this was a day of “national shame” for the country. It was not a question relating to a minority community but of a religion as a structure was allowed to be devastated.

Maulana Obaidullah Kahan Azami of the JD (S) said the Centre should let law take its own course so that those found guilty for the demolition of Babri Masjid were punished. He demanded the construction of the mosque till the court gave its final verdict. Mr M P A Samadani of the Muslim League said some groups were trying to bring religion from “the heart to the fist” just for the sake of politicising religion.

Mr Naresh Yadav (RJD) warned that history had proved that a nation disintegrated when there was a clash between religions. Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia (Ind) said it was sad and unfortunate that in a country where issues like poverty and unemployment needed immediate attention fanatics diverted the attention of the people towards religious fanaticism.

Meanwhile, the BJP spokesman, Mr M.Venkaiah Naidu, hit out at the Congress and other opposition parties for stalling proceedings in the Lok Sabha.

Saying that there was no logic or rationale behind the action of the opposition parties, he said “some people want to raise the issue because of their conviction in vote bank politics and the Opposition wants to divert the House’s attention and obstruct its proceedings”.

The Minister of State for Food Processing, Mr Syed Shahnawaz Hussain appealed to the Muslims not to consider the day as one of acrimony. “Let this be a day for opening a new chapter of Hindu-Muslim friendship”, he added.