Why didn't Liberhan indict Cong leaders, asks Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today accused the Congress of being "responsible" for the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, saying the Liberhan Commission that probed the incident should have indicted the party and its leaders.

"The Congress is responsible for the demolition of the Mosque at Ayodhya and the Liberhan Commission should have indicted the party and its leaders for bringing shame on the nation," he told reporters here before leaving for Balmikinagar in West Champaran district.

He said that after the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the erstwhile Congress government led by late P V Narsimha Rao, had brought out a white paper on the events leading to the demolition of the mosque in 1993.

"The issue was debated in Parliament and the Congress government was also held responsible for the demolition during a no-confidence motion at that time," he said.

He alleged that Congress had ignored suggestions to accord status of Union Territory to Ayodhya and to take control of the area with the help of central forces and army, besides taking action against the the UP government.

"The Liberhan Commission should have gone into all these details. The Congress also failed in ensuring an early probe," he said, adding that "the Congress never intended to ensure a fair and honest probe and has always used the issue as a political tool".