Disputed structure was a stigma, says VHP leader

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 19. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad vice-president, Acharya Giriraj Kishore, today asserted before the Justice Liberhan Commission that the disputed structure in Ayodhya was a ``stigma'' brought by Mughal king Babur and the demolition of this structure had wiped out this ``450-year-old stigma''.

Continuing his deposition before the Commission, Acharya Kishore, who was one of those leaders who entered the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple inside the disputed structure on Wednesday, said that Babur had come as an invader and erected the mosque as a ``victory symbol'' at the birthplace of Lord Rama.

Asked by the Commission whether he thought that the disputed structure was a ``kalank'' (stigma) for other VHP leaders up to December 6, 1992, he said ``I cannot say what was the view of other VHP leaders. It was my personal view and the whole movement was for the construction of temple at the Ram Janamsthan''.

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Section  : National
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