Ahead of Advani’s appearance in Babri mosque case, Amit Shah meets “Margdarshak”
NEW DELHI : Two days before BJP leader LK Advani’s appearance in the 1992 Babri mosque demolition case, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday met the veteran leader at his residence.
The 16th century Babri Masjid was pulled down on December 6, 1992, by Hindu activists who believed it was built on the ruins of an ancient temple marking the birthplace of Lord Ram. Mr Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharati are among the BJP leaders accused of conspiracy.
Advani, one of the accused in the Babri mosque demolition case, is scheduled to record his statement through video conference before a special CBI court for the hearing on Friday.
Ahead of his appearance, Shah, accompanied by a battery of government lawyers, met the 92-year-old leader at his residence in connection with the case, PTI reported, citing sources. Court to deliver verdict by August 31
The Babri case hearing will take places just days before a grand groundbreaking event planned on August 5 for a Ram temple at Ayodhya. The 92-year-old, named among the accused in the case related to the razing of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya, is expected to appear before a special CBI court via video link.
The special court, which is conducting regular hearings, has been asked by the Supreme Court to finish the trial and pronounce the verdict in the case by August 31. The court is recording statements of 32 accused in the case under Section 313 of CrPC to enable them to plead their innocence, if they so want.
The Supreme Court had in May granted three more months to the special court to complete the trial in the case. In July last year, the top court had asked the special judge to deliver the verdict within nine months, which was to end this April.
On December 6, 1992, the 16th century Babri mosque was demolished by alleged Hindu activists who claimed that it was built on the remains of an ancient temple that marked the birthplace of the Lord Ram. Besides Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharati, former Rajasthan governor Kalyan Singh and BJP MP Vinay Katiar are among the BJP leaders accused of conspiracy.
In 2019, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court had handed over the disputed site in Ayodhya to Hindu side for the construction of a temple. The top court also directed that a five-acre plot be alloted to Muslims at another site in Ayodhya.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to perform prayers and over 50 VIPs are likely to attend the event. Reports suggested Mr Advani and other leaders of the Ram temple movement will also be invited.
Last year, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the 2.77 acre land claimed by both Hindus and Muslims would be handed over to a government-run trust for the building of a temple. The court also announced a five-acre plot at another site in Ayodhya for Muslims.
(With Agency Inputs ).
