Not Shiv Sainiks Or BJP Men, Hindus Carried Out Babri Demolition, Says Maharashtra Minister

Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Chandrakant Patil clarified on Tuesday that those who demolished the structure were Hindus and not Shiv Sainiks or BJP men.

After causing a stir by claiming that not a single Shiv Sena member was present when the Babri Masjid was brought down, Maharashtra minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Chandrakant Patil clarified on Tuesday that those who tore down the structure were Hindus and that they could not be classified as Shiv Sainiks or BJP men. Following the minister's remarks, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray demanded that chief minister Eknath Shinde either step down or request Patil's resignation.

After his comments caused a commotion on Tuesday morning, Patil revealed that CM Shinde called him and asked him to clarify.

"Nobody took part in 'karseva' (the movement to demolish the Babri structure) as a member of their political party, but as Hindus." There was no separation between Shiv Sena and non-Shiv Sena workers at the time of the demolition (December 1992). Everyone took part as Hindus," Patil was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI. 

When asked if Bharatiya Janata Party workers did not take part in the demolition, Patil stated, "Neither BJP nor Shiv Sena (then undivided) was present there. All were present as Hindus under the leadership of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad."

"Does this imply that the Shiv Sena did not take part in the demolition?" Patil was perplexed.

"From leaders like Satish Pradhan (of the undivided Shiv Sena) to the VHP and its leader (late) Ashok Singhal, everyone was a part of the Ram Janmabhoomi Andolan." Patil added, "(Late) Anand Dighe (veteran Shiv Sainik and mentor of CM Shinde) had sent a gold brick from Thane to Ayodhya."

Maharashtra Minister On Bal Thackeray: 

During an interview broadcast on a Marathi news channel on Monday evening, the former state BJP president also stated that he did not intend to disrespect Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray in any way.

"Balasaheb Thackeray had even accepted responsibility for the entire incident (demolition of the masjid). However, I will not respond to Uddhav Thackeray's comments against me today," he added.

Notably, Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray was quoted as saying he would be proud if any of his Sainiks had helped demolish the structure.

The Shiv Sena, led by Shinde, and the BJP share power in Maharashtra.

Patil revealed that on Tuesday morning, CM Shinde called him and asked him to clarify. "He even told me that Anand Dighe, his mentor, had sent a gold brick to Ayodhya," the minister added.