The Hindu : Kalyan Singh given more time

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Wednesday, Sep 24, 2003

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Kalyan Singh given more time

By J. Venkatesan

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Kalyan Singh, coming out after appearing before the Liberhan Commission probing the Babri Masjid demolition case in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI SEPT. 23. The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Kalyan Singh, who appeared for the first time today before the Liberhan Commission probing the sequence of events leading to the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya in 1992, came as a witness but sought adjournment of the hearing.

He was accompanied by his advocate, B.B. Saxena. The Commission asked Mr. Singh to appear again on October 28 and 29.

Mr. Singh had moved the Delhi High Court, challenging the bailable warrant issued by the Commission on September 2, asking him to appear by today. During the hearing on September 19, the High Court while posting the matter to October 17, asked him to approach the Commission and seek adjournment of the hearing.

In his brief order, Mr. Justice Liberhan said that "keeping in mind the desire expressed by the Delhi High Court as affirmed by counsel for the Commission, the proceedings of the Commission are adjourned for recording the statement of Kalyan Singh to October 28 and 29."

Soon applications were filed before the Commission seeking to summon the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, after Mr. Singh issued a statement that the two were involved in the "conspiracy to demolish the disputed structure". Mr. Singh, who was asked to appear, challenged the plea in the High Court.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Singh said his further appearance would depend on the outcome of the pending petition before the High Court.

Asked why he had not appeared before the Commission all these years despite repeated summons, Mr. Singh said he did not appear because a criminal case had been pending on the demolition where he was a defendant.

The Commission has directed the Advocate-General of Uttar Pradesh, Virender Bhatia, to place before it by the next date of hearing the report of the Archaeological Survey of India on whether a temple pre-existed the disputed structure after advocate Satya Pal Jain, appearing for L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti said it was relevant to the inquiry. The A-G said he would try to place the report subject to its availability and State Government's views regarding its relevance or admissibility.

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