Cobrapost sting on Babri issue: BJP asks EC to bar telecast

Questioning the timing of a 'sting' operation on the Babri Masjid demolition, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday alleged that it was "sponsored", accusing the Congress of using "pawns" to vitiate the atmosphere before elections and asked the Election Commission to stop its publication and telecast.

Writing to the Election Commission shortly before Cobrapost was to hold a press conference in New Delhi, the BJP sought a bar on its contents being made public.

BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said reports had appeared in papers on Friday about a sting operation related to the sensitive Babri masjid-Ram Janambhoomi dispute. Through this "sponsored sting operation", there is an attempt to inject poison in the peaceful and amicable election atmosphere in the country, he said.

"We had in the morning spoken to Election Commission and also written a letter that an jnon-governmental organisation named Cobrapost in the name of a sting operation is planning to show a sponsored sting on the sensitive Ram Janambhoomi-Babri masjid issue....Its telecast and publication should be immediately barred," he added.

He said the party had asked the EC to take action "against whoever is behind such a mischievous conspiracy." Accusing the Congress of propagating communalism, Naqvi said that the party has lost the battle on ground and was now trying to use pawns to spoil the atmosphere ahead of election.

When asked to comment about the content of the sting operation, Naqvi said its timing raises questions. "The timing is more important than content and raises questions as the election is at its peak and the atmosphere is friendly and peaceful. The election is being contested on the issue of Congress' misgovernance. The people have rejected the secular versus communal plank on which the Congress contests and real issues are being raised. Naturally those who contested on non-issues are upset," he said.