Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh on Tuesday admitted to have instructed the district magistrate not to shoot, as it could have led to multiple casualties of Karsevaks.

"Had I directed to shoot, it would have led to thousands of deaths," said Singh on a private channel.

"There were necessary security arrangement for the Babri mosque, but I couldn't save it from demolition," said Singh said.

However, Singh also quipped that former prime minister Indira Gandhi was also assassinated despite security arrangements.

Singh was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1992 when Babri mosque was demolished on December 6 by thousands of agitated Karsevaks.