The CBI on Monday moved a special court here trying the Babri Masjid demolition conspiracy case involving former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and other BJP stalwarts, for summoning former Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh to stand trial in the case.
The development comes even as Mr. Singh, who was reinducted into the BJP on Monday, challenged all political parties to clarify their stand on the construction of a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
The investigative agency moved the court weeks after the 87-year-old leader completed his tenure as Governor, a constitutional post which offered him immunity from the trial in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
The court accepted the CBI application after ascertaining from the agency that Mr. Singh is no longer holding any constitutional position.
As the trial is being conducted on a day-to-day basis, the CBI application may be taken up for adjudication on September 11. The other BJP leaders who are facing trial in the case include Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti. Mr. Singh was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh when the Mughal-era mosque was demolished by right-wing activists on December 6, 1992.
When a reporter asked him if he would now face trial in the case, Mr. Singh did not give a direct reply. Stressing that “Ayodhya is a sacred pilgrimage site”, he said, “The construction of a Ram temple is a question of faith of crores of people.”
“I don’t want to do any politics on this. But what I want to say is that all parties should clear their stand in front of people, whether they are in favour of construction of Ram temple or against it,” Mr. Singh said at a press conference.
He dismissed prospects of his return to the electoral field, saying: “I won't contest elections. I have fought many.”
(With PTI inputs)