Former BJP leader Kalyan Singh today alleged that certain saffron party leaders conspired to get him remove him as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister in the Babri Masjid demolition aftermath as he was a backward caste leader.
"I was kept in dark and was told that nothing will happen (demolition of mosque)... There was a conspiracy by BJP behind it. Two big leaders who were kar sevavadis, had given to Supreme Court in writing that only a symbolic kar seva would be held there (in Ayodhya)," Singh told reporters here.
Kalyan said that believing the two unnamed BJP leaders, he also told Supreme Court "that yes, I will provide security (to the mosque). However, I can say that BJP leaders were probably thinking how to remove me, because I belong to the backward caste community, which is not acceptable to that party".
Earlier in the day, RJD chief Lalu Prasad had said, "he (Kalyan) is a convict of demolition of Babri Masjid. He is not a member of the Samajwadi Party".
Reacting to Lalu's attack, Kalyan said, "he (Lalu) is referring to the past, he should speak about the present. Muslims have accepted me and I am comfortable with them, this is the fact today".