The BJP on Friday alleged and questioned the timing of a ‘sting’ operation on the Babri Masjid demolition. The BJP also alleged that it was “sponsored”, pointing the finger at Congress for using “pawns” to vitiate the atmosphere before elections and asked the Election Commission to stop its publication and telecast.
The BJP writing to the Election Commission shortly before Cobrapost was to hold a press conference here, sought a bar on its contents being made public.
“We have met the EC and have asked to stop the broadcast of sting so that elections can be peaceful,” BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was quoted as saying by CNN-IBN.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the BJP spokesperson said reports what had appeared in papers today about a sting operation related to the sensitive Babri masjid-Ram Janambhoomi dispute.
By means of this “sponsored sting operation”, there is an attempt to inject poison in the peaceful and affable election atmosphere in the country, he said.
“We had in the morning spoken to Election Commission and also written a letter that an NGO named Cobrapost in the name of a sting operation is planning to show a sponsored sting on the sensitive Ram Janambhoomi-Babri masjid issue….Its telecast and publication should be immediately barred,” he added.
Naqvi further said the party had asked the EC to take action “against whoever is behind such a mischievous conspiracy.” Accusing the Congress of propagating communalism, Naqvi said that the party has lost the battle on ground and was now making an effort to use pawns to make a fuss of the atmosphere ahead of election.
When asked to comment about the content of the sting operation, Naqvi said its timing raises questions.
“The timing is more important than content and raises questions as the election is at its peak and the atmosphere is friendly and peaceful. The election is being contested on the issue of Congress’ misgovernance. The people have rejected the secular versus communal plank on which Congress contests and real issues are being raised. Naturally those who contested on non-issues are upset,” he said.
The Cobrapost sting reveals Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Shiv Sena openly talking about the conspiracy and the fact that the demolition was not a spontaneous act by an enraged mob, according to reports.
Furthermore, the sting reveals that senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi have knowledge of the plan and the then chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Kalyan Singh also had information a day prior to the demolition.
The Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992. As per the sting, an oath was taken to demolish the structure in the presence of Advani and Joshi.