Babri - What does the 1993 CBI chargesheet say about Advani, Singh, Uma and Joshi

The CBI court on Tuesday filed criminal conspiracy charges against L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, Kalyan Singh and others in connection with the Babri Masjid demolition case. Kalyan will however not be tried since he is the Governor of Rajasthan. The Supreme Court had in April while restoring the case had said that Singh will be exempt from trial until he is the Governor.

Let us re-visit the CBI's chargesheet of October 8 1993 to see what charges were filed against these leaders.

L K Advani

L K Advani "vehemently asserted repeatedly" that the kar seva to be held at Ayodha on December 6, 1992, "would not mean only bhajan and kirtan, but would also involve construction of the Shri Ram temple, the CBI said in Page 37 of the chargesheet.

He further asserted to Jansatta that the BJP will break the law for the construction of the Ram Janambhoomi temple at Ayodhya. The final decision to demolish the disputed structure was taken on December 5, 1992, at "a secret meeting" which was "held at the residence of Shri Vinay Katiyar and was attended by Shri L K Advani, Pawan Pandey etc."

Kalyan Singh when contacted by a witness told him that rok construction per lagi hai, destruction par nahi (the stay is on construction, not on destruction)."

L K Advani, in a public speech on December 6, 1992, had "in the proximity of the disputed structure" and shortly before the actual demolition, said: "Aaj kar seva ka akhri din hai, kar sevak aaj akhri kar seva karenge (Today is the last day of kar seva; kar sevaks will perform their final kar seva)," the CBI states in page 40 of the chargesheet.

He acknowledged that "central forces were moving from Faizabad towards Ayodhya" but added that "they were not afraid" of them and "instructed the public to block the national highway straightaway so that forces do not reach the Ram Janambhoomi."

"L K Advani also advised the CM of UP, Shri Kalyan Singh, not to tender his resignation to the governor of UP till the demolition of the disputed structure stands completed."

Uma Bharti

She had "shouted" at Ram Janambhoomi Ayodhya on December 6, 1992: "Ek dhakka aur do, Babri Masjid tod do," and she had also advised the kar sevaks to demolish the disputed structure and shouted "Masjid girao, Mandor bano Babar ki aulad ko Pakistan bhagao", "Jinnah bole Jai Shri Ram" etc, page 43 of the chargesheet states.

"On December 5, 1992, she had told that kar seva will not mean only bhajan and kirtans but the start of a construction of the temple. ‘Ek ek int prashad ke tor per lay jao (Take away each brick as prashad)." "The Supreme Court had not told them to demolish but only to not do construction work and hence they are removing the black spot from the nation's forehead."

On September 30, 1993, she had said in Silchar that the demolition of the Babri Masjid was "a part of a preconceived plan, and she was the pivot of the plan and gave the signal to break the Babri Masjid".

Murli Manohar Joshi

"According to the investigation, Murli Manohar Joshi had said at Mathura on December 1, 1992, on his way to Ayodhya that no force can stop construction of Ram temple and he was encouraging the kar sevaks from the manch on December 6, 1992, for the demolition of the disputed structure and was shouting provocative slogans," the CBI stated in page 46 of the chargesheet.

Kalyan Singh

At his swearing-in as chief minister of UP on June 24, 1991, Singh and senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi visited Ayodhya along with members of his cabinet and party legislators, where they allegedly took a vow to construct the temple.

"In his tenure as Chief Minister, UP, a temple of Shri Ram will inevitably be constructed," page 25 of the chargesheet states.

A conspiracy was hatched with the people being trained by the Bajrang Dal of Gujarat. The last day of training, was on October 10, 1991. In pursuance of this, Kalyan Singh acquired 2.77 acres of land in October 1991 "under the pretext of developing the same for tourism purposes," says the chargesheet in pages 28 and 29.

"It is further evident from the investigation that Kalyan Singh in order to achieve the objectives of the criminal conspiracy as aforesaid not only failed to live up to its promises to protect the disputed structure but continued to aid and abet the criminal conspiracy to ensure its destruction." It goes on to quote from Supreme Court orders, dated December 6, 1992, on it being a "great pity" that a constitutionally elected government "could not discharge its duties in a matter of this sensitiveness and magnitude," the CBI stated in page 39.

The accused public servants and Kalyan Singh were well aware that the central para-military forces were duly equipped with riot gear and plastic and rubber bullets to avoid casualties. "Dogged refusal to deploy the said force in spite of several requests from the (Union government) shows that the failure to take these steps was a part of the conspiracy and criminal design," page 41 states.

Kalyan Singh made statements and gave public speeches which are "clearly indicative of his complicity in the demolition of the disputed structure."

On May 5, 1993, Singh said at Barabanki: "Goli na challaney ka aadesh unke dwaara hi jaari kiya gaya tha aur usi wajah se prashasan ka koi adhikari doshi nahi maana jayega (The order to not fire was issued by them. And that is why, nobody from the administration is guilty.

On March 28, 1993, Singh said at Lucknow: "Vivadith dhanche ki suraksha na kar pane ka unhe koye afsos nahi hai, kyonki ve 464 saal purana gulami ka chinh tha (They don't regret not being able to protect the controversial structure because it was a 464-year-old symbol of slavery)," page 45 states.

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