By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: Former Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao knew about the planning to demolish Babri Masjid and had asked Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief to inform him about the act at least a day before, revealed Hindu leader Ashok Singhal.
Addressing a press conference on 3rd April in the capital, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal made sensational disclosure. He said Rao had information about the demolition and he had asked the then-RSS chief Bala Saheb Deoras to inform him about the actual act of demolition at least a day before. Babri Masjid was demolished on 6th December 1992 by thousands of Hindu fanatics while police and civil administration remained mute spectator.
Ashok Singhal, who had called the press conference to talk about Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani’s book “My Country, My Life,” revealed that Rao was in contacts with the then-Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh even on the day of demolition. BJP was ruling the state. Singhal’s disclosure is said to be the first public confession by any senior leader associated with Ram Janam Bhoomi movement.
Singhal said, “Narsimha Rao (of Congress Party) was in power at the center and Kalyan Singh was in Uttar Pradesh, so this was a good combination as P.V. Narsimha Rao himself wanted the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.”
Advani in his book has also indicated that Rao was in favour of the construction of the temple. Advani wrote in the book, “After having several meetings with him (Rao), I came to conclusion that his views on several issues were similar to that of BJP.”