Vajpayee involved in Ram movement: VHP

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee was involved in the Ram Janma Bhoomi movement which led to the Babri Mosque demolition in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, VHP chief Ashok Singhal said on Friday.

"Ataljee was also involved in the movement. He had been also arrested. I won't say that he was not involved. He had been arrested in Lucknow," Singhal told reporters when asked to comment on the Liberhan Commission report indicting 68 persons including Vajpayee for the Babri Mosque demolition.

Asked about L K Advani's remarks that the demolition day was "saddest day of his life", Singhal said, "I have told him not to make such remarks."

He said the movement was the "movement of saints" but it is being given a political shape which is "absolutely" wrong. "I want to make it clear that it was a movement of saints who guided it and will continue to do it in future."

The VHP leader claimed that VHP wants a "permanent and stable" bond of love between Hindus and Muslims.

But, also said, only the withdrawal of claims of Muslims on the Ram Janma Bhoomi (in Ayodhya), Krishna Janma Bhoomi (in Mathura) and Kashi Vishwanath and the handing over of these places to Hindus by a law of Parliament can ensure strength for real Hindu-Muslim unity.

"If they want peace in India, a law has to be formulated so that these temples can be constructed," Singhal said.