Kalyan singh's Statement on Demolition of Babri

Faced with unease among Muslims over its partnership with Kalyan Singh, who was chief minister of UP when the Babri Masjid was demolished, Samajwadi Party on Wednesday got him to take moral responsibility for the destruction of the mosque, preach Hindu-Muslim amity and take a public vow to finish his former party, the BJP.

Ironically, Kalyan, the one-time Hindutva mascot, had to come to the rescue of ``Maulana'' Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has encountered unprecedented resistance from his solid constituency among Muslims, for teaming up with the former BJP leader.

However, Kalyan Singh refused to go the full distance, stopping short of regretting the Babri demolition — a condition laid down by many Muslim leaders, including those belonging to SP. "I want to make it clear that I had taken moral responsibility for demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992 and had resigned from the post of chief ministership," he said in Lucknow.

The former UP chief minister added, "While Muslims have a right to be proud of Islam, Hindus hae equal right to be proud of Hindutva. It is unfortunate that some people are creating fissures among these two faiths."

He described his alliance with Mulayam Singh as meant to ruin the BJP. Mulayam has come under fire from Muslims and Congress, with a visit to Deoband with confidant Amar Singh on Tuesday encountering angry demands at the Islamic theological seminary at Deoband that Kalyan apologise for Babri demolition.

THIS WHOLE INCIDENT LOOK LIKE A ONE BIG POLITICAL DRAMA NOTING ELSE!!!
The alacrity with which Kalyan unfurled the corrective — through a press statement in Lucknow — clearly showed the invisible Samajwadi hand. The former CM exited BJP recently to ally with SP along with son Rajveer Singh.

Observers were quick to read reasons in Kalyan's reluctance to use the `apology' word, saying he may be fearing loss of his already dimming sheen among his core base, nourished as they have been on a diet of `kamandal' discourse.

Samajwadis, however, felt it was as good as regret. "I don't think so (he is shy of apology). Accepting responsibility and resigning as CM says it all," Amar Singh said.

The tension over Kalyan has grown so much that Mulayam reminded Congress on Wednesday that it was in office at the Centre at the time of demolition.