The accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case had several ways of expressing their innocence before entering the Special CBI court in Lucknow on May 30. While for the top BJP leaders it was careful articulation that could keep them away from the conspiracy charge that the court has levelled against them, the others were a trifle more bold in accepting their role in the issue.
Here are some bytes that APN News Channel, India Legal’s sister concern, present for our readers:
While Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti talked about her respect for the judiciary, she also said that “In the subject of God, I only expect (justice) from god.”
Vinay Katiyar, Rajya Sabha MP from BJP, was also cautious when he said: “…what the Court has ordered, I will follow.”
Here are what some of them said before entering court:
Ram Vilas Vedanti
(Former BJP MP and member, Ram Janambhoomi Nyaas Committee)
“If I am given life imprisonment, then I am ready to go. But on Ram Janambhoomi, the temple of Ram Lalla will be constructed. For that we are determined. In the centre and in this state, the governments are of the BJP. That is why the Ram Mandir will be built. Yogiji and Modiji will together build the Ram temple. We have broken the old façade and have worked to build the temple. And for that Advaniji and Joshiji are innocent.”
Sakshi Maharaj
(BJP MP)
“I have come here, and I think that I’m fortunate. I have not committed any wrong. I have done virtuous work. I have pitched for the temple of Ram, who is revered as god by crores and crores of Hindus. I will again reiterate that nothing in the world can stop us from building the Ram Temple. The sun can forsake its heat, the moon can lose its coolness, the Ganga can go back to the Himalayas, but no power in this world can stop the building of the Ram Temple.”
Uma Bharti
(Union Water Resources minister)
“I’m a stakeholder in the movement. I was present there on December 6 (1992), and it was an open invitation in which crores of BJP karyakartas, lakhs of officials and thousands of politicians participated. Therefore, I didn’t find that there was any conspiracy in this. I respect the judiciary and that is why I have come here. In the subject of God, I only expect (justice) from god. And because I have participated in the movement with full faith, I don’t consider myself guilty.”
Vinay Katiyar
(BJP Rajya Sabha MP)
“From the instruction of the Supreme Court, we have to appear before the CBI court and the chargesheet will be framed. I don’t know what will happen, what the judiciary will order. The order will be heeded. First, the three-member bench of the Supreme Court had rejected the CBI’s plea. Then, when the two judges’ bench heard the case, it agreed with the CBI’s contentions. Then whose order should be heeded: Two judges’ bench or the three judges’ bench? But what the court has ordered, I will follow that. Ram’s work has been started. My stand has always been one on the temple.”
—India Legal Bureau