Vajpayee was also responsible for Babri demolition: Mulayam

New Delhi, Dec 7 : Terming the Liberhan Commission report as "only a half-truth", Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav Monday said that veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also responsible for the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992.

"Why was Atalji arrested (after the Dec 6, 1992 razing) if he was innocent? He was involved in all the meetings (leading up to the demolition). He staged protests at our home and office. How can you say that Atalji was not responsible for it. He has incited the feelings of people. He is not well and I expect him to get well soon. But as far as Ayodhya is concerned he was responsible," Mulayam Singh told the Lok Sabha.

The Liberhan Commission report, submitted in parliament Nov 24, had indicted Vajpayee along with senior BJP leader L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi for the demolition. The BJP had expressed shock at the indictment of Vajpayee.

"Right from the BJP to Shiv Sena, everybody was involved in that (demolition). This (Liberhan report) is only a half-truth. Was Shankersinh Vaghela not involved in it? Was Sanjay Nirupam not there? Everybody was there," he added.

"Had action been taken, the mosque would have been saved and communal harmony in the country would have remained intact," the Samajwadi Party chief said, adding: "The incident shattered national integration and fomented mutual distrust among Hindus and Muslims. This is dangerous."

Mulayam Singh also defended the firing on Kar Sevaks (Hindus who gathered for the Ram temple movement) in 1990 when he was Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

"To save the mosque (in 1990) our security forces had to fire. In the firing, 16 lives were lost. But more lives were lost in the riots in the aftermath of the mosque demolition. The full report should come out," he added.

--IANS