Current affairs

Babri verdict: How the acquitted and opposition leaders reacted to the judgment?

By alagu, 30 September, 2020
India, Babri Masjid, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh

As the CBI special court in Lucknow had on Wednesday acquitted all the 32 accused in the Babri demolition case, the verdict, which had drawn nationwide attention for its severity of the matter, has been surfaced with the mixed reactions from the national leaders with the accused, who have now been relieved from the case, have been hailing the verdict while the opposition had been dubbing it as a black day for the Indian judiciary. 

The CBI special court bench headed by Justice Surendra Kumar Yadav had acquitted 32 accused in connection to the Babri demolition case. The accused include veteran BJP leaders LK Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, Kalyan Singh, Vinay Katiyar, and Sadhvi Rithambara, and they have been accused of criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity between different groups and religions, and indulging in deliberate and malicious acts with the motive of prompting outrage religious feelings.

In December 1992, 'kar sevaks' had demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya by claiming that the mosque was built after collapsing the ancient Hindu temple that marked the birthplace of Lord Ram. The demolition drive had instigated the communal riots across the country during which around 3,000 people have died. The CBI took over the probe in 1993 and it had filed cases against 49 accused and carried out the probe. 

Of these 49, 17 had died during the trial and the rest 32 were on the accused list. The case was heard by the CBI special court in Lucknow and the court had pronounced the verdict on Wednesday in which it had acquitted all the 32 accused and relieved from the case and all the charges. Following the development, the verdict has been surfaced with the mixtures of reactions from the national leaders. 

One of the accused and veteran BJP leader LK Advani said, "It's a very important decision and a matter of happiness for us. When we heard the news of the court's order, we welcomed it by chanting Jai Shri Ram". He added that "I wholeheartedly welcome the judgement by the Special Court in Babri Masjid demolition case. The judgement vindicates my personal and BJP's belief and commitment toward the Ram Janmabhoomi movement". Murali Manohar Joshi said, "It's a historic decision by the court. This proves that no conspiracy was hatched for December 6 incident in Ayodhya. Our program and rallies were not part of any conspiracy. We are happy, everyone should now be excited about Ram Mandir's construction"

 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had also welcomed the verdict and said, "I welcome the verdict by Special CBI Court, Lucknow acquitting all 32 accused. It proves that justice triumphed however late it may be". Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had welcomed the verdict and said, " It proves that the then Congress govt had framed saints, BJP leaders, VHP officials in false cases with intention to defame them, for vote bank politics. Those responsible for this conspiracy should apologize to nation".

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, "Verdict saying demolition wasn't a conspiracy & a result of circumstances, was the expected judgment. We must forget that episode. If the Babri Masjid wasn't demolished we wouldn't have seen any Bhumi Pujan for Ram Mandir". "I and my party Shiv Sena, welcome the judgment and congratulate Advani ji, Murli Manohar ji, Uma Bharti ji & the people who have been acquitted in the case", Raut added.

On the other hand, the opposition parties had voiced against the verdict and underlined the verdict as the black day of the Indian judiciary. Congress party has said, "The decision of the Special Court to acquit all the accused in Babri Masjid demolition case runs counter to Supreme Court Judgement as also the Constitutional spirit". 

While addressing the reporters about the verdict, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "The decision of the CBI court to acquit all the accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case runs counter to the Supreme Court judgment & to the Constitutional spirit. The SC had held in a 5-judge bench that the destruction of the mosque as illegal". 

Reacting to the verdict, leader of the AIMIM party Asaduddin Owaisi said, "Today is a sad day in the history of Indian judiciary. Now, the court says there was no conspiracy. Please enlighten me, how many days of months of preparations are required to disqualify an action from being spontaneous?". He added that "This is an issue of justice. This is an issue of ensuring that people who are responsible for the Babri Masjid demolition should've been convicted. But they've been politically rewarded in the past by becoming HM & HRD minister. BJP is in power because of this issue".

By quoting the apex court which had earlier spelled in its verdict that the demolition an egregious violation of rule of law' & 'calculated act of destroying a public place of worship, Owaisi further added that the decision by the CBI court is a black day for the Indian judiciary. 

 

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