New Delhi ,March 26: Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani came under fresh attack from political parties and Muslim groups, with the Congress saying he should retire from politics, after a senior IPS officer testified against him in the Babri Masjid demolition case on Friday. The BJP, on the other hand, decided to wait and watch and refused comment citing the legal process involving the depositions of a number of witnesses and cross-examinations.

When asked to comment, BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said: "This is the ninth witness and another 40 are remaining. There is a legal process. Therefore, based on the present legal proceedings, the BJP would not like to comment."

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "In the eyes of the public, the BJP and its top leadership were proved guilty 20 years ago. Now the process is entering the phase of legal finality. This is first important, official, direct eyewitness testimony in the legal process." He said the provisions under which Mr Advani and others have been charged are extremely serious, and particularly that of promoting enmity between two communities, which can attract a punishment of up to six to seven years’ imprisonment.

Another Congress leader, Mr Rashid Alvi said Mr Advani should retire from politics after the statement by his ex-personal security officer. He said India is a secular country and in Indian politics there is "no room for any such person". "A political leader who had been instrumental in demolition of a religious place of a community through his provocative speeches is not fit to be in Indian politics," Mr Alvi said.

Another Congress spokesman, Mr Manish Tewari, said: "it is in the interest of justice, and especially in the interest of Indian secularism, which needs to be protected by bringing culprits to book." The party pressed for a day-to-day trial of those accused in the case.

Citing public perception, the Congress spokesperson said, "Advani, the leadership of the RSS and the leadership of the Bajrang Dal, and all affiliated organisations stand guilty and convicted in the eyes of public opinion because all that which happened between 1985 and 1992 was played out in full public view."

CPI leader D. Raja said the testimony was a "vindication" of what his party had been saying all along about the alleged involvement of Mr Advani and other BJP leaders.

Mr Zafaryab Jilani of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board said the testimony would vindicate "our stand that Advani was actually fully guilty". He said Ms Gupta’s testimony carries weight as she was undisputedly present at the site and in close proximity to Mr Advani and other leaders when the demolition took place. Mr Jilani said that being an impartial and independent witness, her testimony will help prove the guilt of the leaders in the conspiracy to demolish the Babri Masjid.

Age Correspondent