The special court in Lucknow on Wednesday sensationally acquitted all 32 living accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case, 28 years after the shameful act by Hindutva zealots triggered countrywide pogroms killing thousands of people, mostly Muslims. Special judge SK Yadav said that the demolition of the 16th-century Islamic place of worship was pre-planned.
The judge said in his verdict, “To prove an offence under Section 153 A and 153 A of IPC (Indian Penal Code), the prosecution has to prove that which accused gave what specific speech that led to enmity between two groups and led to a breakdown in communal harmony. If the accused have merely given an inciting speech only on that basis the person cannot be pronounced guilty.”
The verdict left India’s civil society shocked triggering angry reactions on Twitter.
Here’s a gem from today’s Babri verdict.
“If the accused have merely given a inciting speech only on that basis the person cannot be pronounced guilty.”
(Umar Khalid arrested for ‘merely’ giving a speech, which the govt considered inciteful.)
— rama lakshmi (@RamaNewDelhi) September 30, 2020
ADVANI has nothing to do with Babri Demolition.
MODI has nothing to do with the Gujarat Riots.
SHAH has nothing to do with Fake Encounters.
ADITYANATH has nothing to with Jungle Raj in UP.#AlternativeFacts
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) September 30, 2020
The judge while acquitting all accused in Babri demolition case has said they actually tried to protect the masjid from being destroyed by unwanted elements. But weren’t they caught on camera celebrating the demolition by the same criminal elements?
— M K Venu (@mkvenu1) September 30, 2020
Who demolished Babri Mosque? Ram?
Indian judicial system has become a joke. A special CBI court has acquitted all 32 accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case.— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) September 30, 2020
So who demolished Babri Mosque?
There’s pictures & videos. There’s accused admitting their role in interviews.
But doesn’t matter apparently.
The most painful chapter of modern Indian history closes with zero justice for the crime of brazenly demolishing a mosque.
Terrible.
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) September 30, 2020
The demolition of Babri Masjid had triggered countrywide pogroms leaving thousands of people, mostly Muslims, dead. The trial, which lasted for 28 years, was conducted under Sections 147/153-A/153-B/295/295-A/505 IPC read with Sections 149 and 120B IPC.
Judge SK Yadav was scheduled to retire on 30 September 2019 but was given an extension to complete the trial.
The Supreme Court had extraordinarily restored the criminal conspiracy charge against Advani, Joshi, and Bharti in the case in April 2017. The apex court had also said that the trial against the accused will take place in a time-bound manner together with another case currently underway against karsevaks.