BJP not to field leaders indicted by Liberhan in Parliamentary debate

A file picture of BJP President Rajnath Singh, arriving at Parliament House on the first day of the Winter Session, in New Delhi. Photo: PTI.

The BJP has decided against fielding party leaders indicted by the Liberhan Commission during the discussions in the Lok Sabha tomorrow which is expected to be dominated by the debate on two former Prime Ministers Atal Behari Vajpayee and late P.V. Narasimha Rao.

While the culpability of Mr. Vajpayee by the Commission has come under attack from the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, the clean chit to Rao has also attracted flak from the Left and the Right parties alike.

The report of the Commission which went into the demolition of Babri Masjid was tabled in Parliament last week, 17 years after the panel was set up.

BJP managers let it known that senior leaders L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi will not participate in the discussion following a decision by the party against fielding those indicted in the report.

While BJP President Rajnath Singh, will initiate the debate on behalf of the party, its Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, will be the second speaker.

Party sources added that Mr. Advani, Mr. Joshi and Lalji Tandon can intervene at a personal level when their names are taken in the House.