Lucknow
A political controversy erupted on Saturday following remarks by Ram Mandir Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Misra, who said that decisions during critical events like the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid were largely driven by political leadership rather than bureaucratic officials.
Recalling the developments of that period, Misra said that in 1992, despite reports indicating a collapse of law and order in Ayodhya, the then Chief Minister Kalyan Singh had issued clear instructions that police should not open fire on ‘Karsevaks’.
He also referred to his tenure serving under different political administrations, including that of former Chief Minister late Mulayam Singh Yadav, noting the contrast in approaches adopted by the two leaders during moments of crisis.
Reacting to Misra’s remarks, Uttar Pradesh Minister Jaiveer Singh told IANS, The entire world knows that no matter who the principal secretary is, the decision of the Chief Minister is followed. Whatever Mulayam Singh Yadav had decided, it had to be followed by Misra and other officials even though they did not agree.
BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo also criticised the actions of the Mulayam Singh Yadav government, saying, No one can justify what Mulayam Singh Yadav’s government did to Kar Sevaks. It was brutal and a big attack on the Sanatanis.
However, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati offered a sharply different interpretation, claiming that Misra himself had earlier indicated that the decision to open fire was taken at the administrative level.
Nripendra Misra had said that he had given the orders to fire. This was not a political decision. He is now twisting his remarks. Politicians just gave the instructions to save the infrastructure. The decision of how one saves it lies with the officials. The firing orders were given by Misra. Even without firing, the situation could have been controlled, but he might not have prepared for it and still gave the orders to shoot, Bhati told IANS.
He further added, He is now flipping from his earlier stand. I agree that 90 per cent of decisions are taken by the government. However, the government only decides that law and order is maintained and the infrastructure is unharmed, it does not decide whether the officials use lathis or guns.
