V.P. Singh seeks to appear before Liberhan panel

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 16. The former Prime Minister, Mr. V.P. Singh, today reiterated that he would appear before the Liberhan Commission to give his version of the Ayodhya events, while disputing the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani's deposition on his offer to join `kar seva'.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Singh said he would move an application next week before the Commission seeking permission to appear before it as he wanted to place on record matters relating to the subject.

He said the BJP leaders had launched a `systematic campaign' to arouse sentiments once again since the NDA Government was unable to check the economic downslide in the wake of crisis in agriculture and other sectors, in the country. The former Prime Minister said he had offered to the BJP to join the `kar seva' for construction of Ram temple outside the disputed area.

Mr. Advani while referring to his offer had used the word `adjoining' land and ``cleverly stopped at that''.

He said since Mr. Advani was then ``adamant'' to proceed to the `shilanyas site' in violation of the Court order, the BJP leader was taken into custody.

Mr. Singh said his National Front Government fell in 1990 because it made no compromise in standing by what was lawful and right.

Referring to Mr. Advani and the Human Resource Minister, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi statement accusing him of not coming up with any solutions when he was the Prime Minister, Mr. Singh countered, ``Why do not they come up with those bright solutions they expect of me, now that they have been thrice as long in power than I was''.

He went on to counter-question the BJP as to what prevents it from issuing an ordinance that refers the Ayodhya issue to the Supreme Court if its leaders thought that the withdrawal of the ordinance by Mr. Singh had turned matters sour.

Mr. Singh recounted that the situation then was ``impossible'', since the Vishwa Hindu Parishad had said it would neither abide by the Court orders nor make any change in its demand for construction of temple.

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