New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chose not to comment on a senior police officer deposing Friday against party leader L.K. Advani in the Babri mosque demolition case, but the Congress and Left sharpened their attack on the BJP veteran.
BJP spokesperson Ramnath Kovind told reporters here that the party will not comment on the deposition of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Anju Gupta in a Rae Bareli court Friday.
"The BJP won't comment on that. It is a matter subjudice," he said when asked about the party's reaction to Gupta's statement before the court.
Gupta, who is now inspector general with external intelligence agency RAW in Delhi, Friday morning testified before the court saying that Advani "looked euphoric" on the day when the Babri Masjid was demolished.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy, another BJP spokesperson, also refused to comment and told reporters at a separate news conference that the case needs "no political rejoinder" from the party.
"It is being looked into by a court and needs no political rejoinder," Rudy said.
The Congress stepped up its attack on Advani, saying that the BJP leader was already considered guilty in the court of people.
Party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the deposition of the police officer was very important as part of the legal process.
He added that the party did not want to comment on the case as it was subjudice.
Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Nilotpal Basu said "the party had all along been saying that Advani was involved in pulling down the Babri mosque".
He said to the extent that the police officer's deposition substantiated the party's viewpoint "it is very good."
Communist Party of India national council secretary Shameem Faizee said "the police officer's deposition only confirmed suspicion that Advani was part of the conspiracy to demolish the mosque and create communal divide in the country".
In her deposition, Gupta said Advani looked "looked euphoric" as he declared in Ayodhya on Dec 6, 1992, shortly before the demolition of the Babri Masjid, that a Ram temple would be built on the site.
The senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer did not mince words while describing the excitement in the top brass of the BJP on the day the Babri Masjid was demolished by violent radical Hindu activists.
"Advani not only looked euphoric but also declared before the huge crowds at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992 that the Ram temple would be built at the disputed site in the temple town," she said during her two-and-half hour testimony.
Advani, Gupta said, "gave quite a provocative speech for which he was applauded by his other party colleagues and the crowds".
Gupta also said that it was Advani and Uma Bharti who urged the "karsewaks" to descend from the domes of the 16th century mosque.