Click to play videoSeventeen years and 48 extensions later, the Babri Masjid demolition report was finally submitted by the Liberhan Commission to Prime Manmohan Singh on Tuesday. The report holds saffron leaders Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar and Mulri Manohar Joshi guilty, while leader of the Opposition L K Advani and former prime minister Narasimha Rao have been criticised. The BJP has called the report a Congress conspiracy. Justice M S Liberhan joined CNN-IBN to answer some questions.
CNN-IBN: The first big and obvious question Justice Liberhan is that it has taken almost 17 years for you to bring out the Ayodhya report. Why did it take so long?
Justice Liberhan: I have given my reasons in the report. I can't comment beyond that.
CNN-IBN: But you have blamed the non-cooperative attitude of certain people for the delay. Do you want to name those people? Who or what stopped you from going ahead with the report all these years?
Justice Liberhan: With due respect, all the reasons are in my report and I have never commented orally that so-and-so is responsible and so-and-so is not responsible.
CNN-IBN: Now that the report is out, shouldn't it be tabled in Parliament right away? Doesn't the public have the right to know the contents as soon as possible to avoid speculation?
Justice Liberhan: It is for the Government to decide when they want to table it and what they want to do.
CNN-IBN: But sir, if the content is not revealed soon, then aren't you worried that the entire report will become a political football?
Justice Liberhan: I can't again comment.
CNN-IBN: We have learnt that you have indicted several senior BJP leaders and the former prime minister Narasimha Rao.
Justice Liberhan: That's what I am saying. Leaders or anybody, I cannot comment on anything. It is all in my report, my opinions and my findings.
CNN-IBN: Ok. No comment is the standard response Justice Liberhan. At the end of 17 years, are you relieved?
Justice Liberhan: I can only say I feel relieved of the burden just as a good citizen or a human being or as an ordinary person on the street would be.
CNN-IBN: Most commissions of inquiry don't result in any real action. Will your report meet the same fate?
Justice Liberhan: This is again for others to judge.
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