No disruption of House on Babri mosque anniversary

For the first time since December 6, 1992, the Lok Sabha saw ordinary business being conducted on this day, the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition.

However, members did refer to the demolition of the mosque during a short-lived heated exchange at the zero hour, with members of the Samajwadi Party staging a walkout.

The issue was raised by Ramji Lal Suman of the Samajwadi Party who made certain objectionable remarks, expunged by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Suman's argument was picked up by Shafiqur Rehman (SP), who repeated the comments made by Suman.

However, the Speaker firmly dealt with the shouting restraining the argument to a manageable level.

The BJP's disapproval of the SP's comments led to sloganeering in the House for a while and some BJP members walked into the well of the House but returned after being assured by the Speaker that the objectionable comments would be expunged.

Registering the BJP's protest, VK Malhotra said: "Had they not used the words, which they have used in raising this issue, it would have been better. In 1949, the idol (of Ram) was excavated there. That is why the idols have been installed in that place. Since 1949, people have been conducting poojas there. No Muslim could go there within a periphery of 200 meters." A Ram temple should be constructed on the site, he added.

Malhotra was interrupted several time by the SP members who staged a walkout as a mark of protest. Malhotra later repeated that the structure was not a mosque and that the BJP was not responsible for bringing it down.

"The idols 'appeared' there during Jawaharlal Nehru's time, the shilanyas was done and gates were opened during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as the Prime Minister, yet the Congress and its allies continue to blame us," the BJP leader said.

After the zero hour, Chatterjee received a letter from a "young MP" who asked his seniors to lead by example and behave in a manner that would be "conducive to their learning." The letter was read out by Chatterjee and found support from the House.