Times of India
Liberhan panel report almost complete: Shakil Ahmad
by Faizan Ahmad, TNN
PATNA: After about 17 years and after getting 47 extensions, the Liberhan Commission has almost completed its investigation and likely to submit
its report to the Union government very soon.
Union minister of state for home Shakil Ahmad on Monday told TOI that the government would handle it carefully since it is very sensitive issue and will certainly not give an opportunity to anybody to politicize it.
The Liberhan Commission had been constituted to investigate the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992 and role of certain politicians. They include some top BJP leaders, including L K Advani.
"The report is almost ready and will be submitted soon. But we will ensure that no political party should attempt to politicize it and will also take care of the timing of the submission of the report," he said.
Later, delivering a lecture on communalism and terrorism here at Gandhi Sangrahalaya, Ahmad said the demand made by some political quarters to hang Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was not only politically motivated, but driven by communal passion.
"As many as 28 mercy petitions are lying pending with the President of India and each petition is sent to the departments concerned and even to the jail and it takes time. In this list, the serial number of Afzal Guru's is 28. So how he could be hanged without proper procedure," he said.
He further said that more than 10-year-old cases are listed there and the killer of former PM Rajiv Gandhi is fifth in the list. He asked, "Why Murugham should not be hanged first, but such demand have never been made. Afzal's head is demanded only because he is a Muslim and that serves the purpose of some political section."
Dwelling at length on communalism and terrorism, Ahmad said terrorism has only one purpose: to target innocent people and fan communal hatred. He said there are many facets of terrorism and each is dangerous for the unity of the country. "Unfortunately some sections are using terrorism to get power," he said without elaborating.
Ahmad attacked CM Nitish Kumar without naming him and said certain parties talk about Gandhiism, but compromise with the supporters of Gandhi's killers. The JD(U) leaders call themselves secular, but support Advani who openly clamours to build mandir at disputed place in Ayodhya. Former CM Ram Sundar Das chaired the meeting and Gandhi Sangrahalaya secretary Razi Ahmad introduced the theme.
|
