Himalayan News Service

Rae Bareli, July 28:

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president LK Advani and seven others were today charged in the 1992 Babri mosque demolition case in Ayodhya. Special Judicial Magistrate VK Singh read out the charges against each of the accused in a packed courtroom and fixed August 30 for the next hearing. Pleading “not guilty”, Advani and the others furnished a personal bond and surety of Rs 10,000 each. Besides Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharati were also present in the court that had only two years ago dropped the charges against Advani due to lack of evidence. Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore, Vishnu Hari Dalmiya and Sadhvi Rithambara were also charged. “They were all charged under section 153 (a) and (b) of the Indian Penal Code for making provocative speeches aimed at inciting communal passions and enmity,” Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) counsel P.K. Chaube told reporters. “Besides, sections 147 and 149 were invoked against them for indulging in rioting and for unlawful assembly,” he said. Shortly after his court appearance, Advani sought to reiterate his commitment to the building of a temple at the site of the mosque, a movement

that aided BJP’s phenomenal rise to national prominence. “We are committed to building a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya,” he said, winning applause and loud cries of “Jai Shri Ram” in return.