NEW DELHI: Top Shiv Sena leaders have claimed responsibility for the planning and demolition of the Babri Masjid at Ayodhyaon Dec.6 in an interview to the video magazine, News track.

President of the North India branch of the Shiv Sena, Jaibhagwan Goyal said that the entire planning was the Shiv Sena’s and the men who led the demolition belonged to the Shiv Sena.

However, the Shiv Sena supreme BAL Thackeray when asked for his reaction to Goyal’s claim, said that the demolition was an absolutely spontaneous act but senior leaders of the Sangh family including the banned Bajrang Dal, expressed doubts about the Shiv Saimik’s claim. Achara Giriraj Kishore of the Bajrang Dal said that those who initiated the demolition were not from the Shiv Sena. He maintained that the demolition was a spontaneous act.

Thakeray said that if he had been the prime minister of the country, he would have demolished the Babri Masjid long back. “I would have demolished it long back, not leaving it to my party workers or Shiv Sainiks. I would have done it officially,” he said. Thakeray added that since “they have done it well I have said it already, | am proud of them.”

Goyal said that the “complete planning was done as to who all would go there and what they were required todo.” All the implements they needed for demolishing the Babri masjid structure were available to them.

According to Goyal, he and Shiv Sena Member of Parliament from Aurangabad, Mores war Sainiks were in charge of the operation and “we were commanding it.”

Goyal said that senior BJP and RSS leaders tried to stop the demolition; they tried to bring down the people who had climbed onto the domes. “But once the work started many people joined it, whether they were Shiv Sainiks. Or not,” he added.

Several other Shiv Sainiks who were interviewed gave details of the chain of events which led to the demolition. One of the Shiv Sainiks claimed, “We were given training in how to demolish the Babri Masjid in the Chambal ravines.”

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 22, 1993