Muslim law board unhappy about Liberhan report

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has taken a strong exception to the clean chit given to then prime minister P V Narsimha Rao in the Liberhan Commission Report on Babri Masjid demolition and questioned the 'unfortunate' observations made in the document on Muslim organisations.

A senior member of the Board, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firnagimahal, told PTI that giving a 'clean chit to Rao is a mockery of sorts'. The board has also taken an exception to certain observations made by the Commission, against some Muslim organisations and the Board, terming them as 'unfortunate'.

"The report states that the Board and Muslim organisations did not put forth their stand on the Babri mosque and did little for the rehabilitation of the riot victims," Firangimahal said, adding that the Commission should instead "have commended us for stopping the Muslim people from taking to the streets which could have aggravated the situation.

"By controlling the Muslim masses, an effort was made to keep the atmosphere of fear under check," he said, adding that several meetings were held all over the country to make them understand the situation. He said though rehabilitation is the responsibility of the government, "we went all out to help not just the Muslims but also the Hindus who had become victim of the riots".

The Liberhan report has proved that on the issues concerning the minority community, all political parties are the same, he said, adding, "otherwise why has the Action Taken Report not recommended any punishment for the guilty".

Firangimahal said it is 'strange' that the report is silent on the quantum of punishment for those responsible for the "killing of 2,000 people during the post-Babri riots".

The Muslim leader, who is also Lucknow's Naib Imam, said that he has, in his 'khudba' (religious discourse) before the Bakri-Id prayers today, apprised the community of the report and the situation arising out of it.

In spite of their reservations about the report, Muslim organisations have decided against giving that any publicity, as they don't want to allow anyone to take advantage of the situation, he said.