Babri demolition: SP for resignation of BJP veterans post SC's historic order

Hailing the Supreme Court's decision in the Babri Masjid demolition matter as historic, the Samajawadi Party on Wednesday demanded the resignation of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders involved in the case.

Dubbing the matter as serious, Samajawadi Party leader Juhi Singh said the political leaders involved in the Babri Masjid demolition case should resign on moral ground.

"This is a serious matter. We hope justice will be delivered in this case as soon as possible. We respect the Supreme Court's decision," she told ANI.

Echoing similar views, another Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan welcomed the apex court's historic decision.

"The government has kept the Supreme Court in the dark. The apex court had many times tried to maintain peace in the country. This is very serious and historic decision. The entire nation is victim in this case," Khan told ANI.

Earlier in the day, the top court allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) appeal challenging the withdrawal of conspiracy charges against senior BJP leaders including L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti besides others. The apex court also ruled that the leaders will face criminal conspiracy charges in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

Directing the sessions' judge in Lucknow to conduct the trial in the Babri demolition case on a daily basis, the apex court also made it clear that the judge would not be transferred and ruled out a fresh trial in the case.

The top court also ordered the CBI to ensure that witnesses are produced in the court everyday so that there is no delay in the trial, which has to be completed in two years.

However, the apex court has clarified that Kalyan Singh, being the Governor of Rajasthan, will not be tried due to constitutional immunity unless he ceases to be in that post. In effect, his trial will begin after his term as the Governor ends.

Singh was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh when the demolition took place.

The other BJP leaders, who will face criminal conspiracy charges in this case, are Vinay Katiyar, Sadhvi Ritambara, Satish Pradhan, Champat Rai Bansal. Late Giriraj Kishore is also among those named in the original chargesheet.

There were two sets of cases relating to the demolition of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992.

The first involved unnamed 'karsevaks' or volunteers, the trial of which is taking place in a Lucknow court, while the second set of cases relate to the VVIPs in a Rae Bareli court.

With today's order, both these cases are merged and will be heard in Lucknow.

The order comes after the CBI had petitioned the apex court saying 14 people, including BJP leaders, who had been acquitted of the charges under criminal conspiracy, should be tried in the Lucknow court.