New Delhi, March 27: The BJP appeared unfazed by the testimony of LK Advani’s then personal security officer Anju Gupta in a Raebareli court that the former deputy prime minister’s provocative speeches led to the fall of Babri Masjid.
Officially, party spokes-man Ramnath Kovind said, “The matter is sub judice, let the law take its course.”
But privately, senior leaders said Gupta, who is incidentally married to Safi Rizvi, officer on special duty to P Chidambaram, will be cornered during cross-examination which begins April 19. The BJP said it was on sound ground legally and had nothing to worry.
“This is not the first time that Gupta has deposed in the case. She also testified before the Liberhan Commission. There are discrepancies in her testimonies which will be nailed,” a party leader said.
“While it is well established that Advaniji was at the Ram Raksha Kund in Faizabad at that time [when Babri Masjid was brought down], Gupta’s testimony differs on the fact that he asked kar sevaks to get down from the dome of the mosque. She has also introduced this new element of Advaniji having mithai as the dome fell, which is not there in her earlier testimonies,” the leader said.
The Congress too appeared curiously uninterested in attacking Advani. “The BJP and its leaders were found guilty and convicted by the people of the country almost 20 years ago.Everyone saw who demolished the Babri Masjid and how. That overwhelming proof has now received its final legality,” party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.
-Agencies