Twenty-eight years after the Babri Masjid was demolished, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Wednesday, 30 September, acquitted all 32 accused in the case, including former deputy prime minister LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharti.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said that it will appeal against the verdict in the high court.
After the verdict, Advani issued a statement saying it vindicates his and the BJP’s belief in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.Joshi said that the verdict proves their rallies were not part of any conspiracy.
The accused were acquitted, citing lack of evidence against them for hatching the alleged conspiracy. The court also observed that the 1992 demolition was not pre-planned.
- Several BJP leaders including Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Ravi Shankar Prasad welcomed the verdict
- Prasad met Advani at the latter’s Delhi residence after the verdict
- Several Opposition leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi and Sitaram Yechury slammed the verdict, calling it a travesty of justice
- Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharti attended the proceedings via video conferencing
- UP CM Yogi Adityanath in a statement said that the Congress government had framed saints, BJP leaders, VHP officials in false cases with intention to defame them
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Muslim Personal Law Board to Challenge Babri Verdict in HC
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said that it will appeal against the special CBI court verdict in the Babri Masjid demolition case in the high court.
AIMPLB Secretary Zafaryab Jilani said that the judgment pronounced on Wednesday by the special CBI court in the case was wrong.
"We will appeal against the judgment in the High Court," said the lawyer, who was also part of the Babri Masjid Action Committee, IANS reported.
Black Day for Indian Judiciary: Owaisi on Babri Verdict
AIMIM Leader Asaduddin Owaisi called the verdict a ‘black day’ for Indian judiciary
“Today is a sad day in the history of Indian judiciary. Now, the court says there was no conspiracy. Please enlighten me, how many days of months of preparations are required to disqualify an action from being spontaneous?” he asked, as quoted by ANI.
“Decision by CBI court is a black day for Indian judiciary because the SC already said in civil property dispute of the site as ‘an egregious violation of rule of law’ and ‘calculated act of destroying a public place of worship,’” he said.
'Complete Travesty of Justice': Yechury Slams Babri Verdict
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury called the Babri verdict a travesty of justice.
Truth Prevailed: Prakash Javadekar on Babri Verdict
Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar reacted saying the country is elated at the acquittal of LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and others.