Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday said the Action Taken Report tabled by the UPA government in the Parliament was an attempt to “hush up” the sensitive Ayodhya issue.
She charged the Congress and the BJP with trying to take political mileage out of the Liberhan Commission report and alleged that an attempt was made to flare up communal tension by leaking the report.
“The Centre has made an attempt to hush up the matter in its ATR tabled in Parliament yesterday, which is a condemnable attempt. More so an attempt was made to flare up communal tension by leaking Justice Liberhan commission report,” Ms. Mayawati told reporters here.
She claimed that the BJP, the Congress and the SP were squarely responsible for demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.
“At that time Congress was ruling at the Centre and the BJP was having a government in the State. Without a joint conspiracy demolition of the structure was not possible.
“SP on the other hand flared up tension among Muslims and tried to take political mileage out of the issue. Whether it be Congress, BJP or SP, they had always used the issue only for political gain and had made no efforts to find a solution to it,” she said.
Ms. Mayawati alleged that the Congress raked up the issue for political gain by unlocking the disputed structure in 1986 and then allowing shilanyaas . “By giving provoking statements, Mulayam Singh Yadav too mislead the people,” she said.
Ms. Mayawati accused the Congress of trying to shrug its responsibility of acting against the guilty who were indicted in the report tabled 17 years after the incident.
She charged that the commission in its report had made an unsuccessful attempt to save the Congress.
The UP Chief Minister cautioned the people to remain alert against “divisive forces”, who she alleged, were indulging in politics of caste and religion.
“The people have still not forgotten that unfortunate incident, which created a rift between them and dented the country’s image internationally,” Ms. Mayawati said.
She questioned the constitution of Liberhan Commission and delay in submission of the report.
“When the case was pending in the court, people are unable to understand what was the point behind setting up the commission,” Ms. Mayawati said.
The Chief Minister warned that stern action would be taken against those who try or even think to flare up communal tension and disturb law and order situation in the state in the wake of the Liberhan commission report.
“I have asked principal secretary home and DGP to tour sensitive districts and ensure that notorious elements do not disturb law and order situation, which is the top priority of the government,” she said.
When asked whether Kalyan Singh would be allowed to visit Ayodhya, as announced by him, Ms. Mayawati said right step would be taken on the basis of circumstances.
“No demonstration will be allowed on the issue in the state on or before December 6,” she said in a reply to a question.
On the reported indictment of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the commission report, Ms. Mayawati said she would comment only after going through its contents again.
“I have read the report only once and would comment only after going through its contents again. As of now I am closely watching the drama being staged by the Congress and the BJP,” she said.
