NEW DELHI: The indictment of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders by the Liberhan Commission should be a clear warning for the party to stop practising communal politics, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily said Tuesday.
He also said that senior leaders named in the report - as those who played a role in bringing down the Babri mosque in 1992 - should be accountable to the nation.
"(This is) the final indictment of the Sangh Parivar, BJP leaders, it is really shocking and shameful to the nation Now if they (the BJP) want to remain (in mainstream politics), they need to change their course. This is a clear warning to them - you need to change," Moily told a news channel.
The report of the Liberhan Commission of inquiry indicted senior BJP leaders like L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi and Rashtriya Swayamsevaj Sangh (RSS) for their role in bringing down the 1992 Babri mosque in Ayodhya.
"They need to change from the communal politics and hatred politics to the national policy where you can have harmony," he added.
"It they want to see (this) as matter off confrontation, it is unfortunate I don't think people of this country will excuse (them)," he said.
Asked if any action would be taken against the senior leaders indicted in the report, he said: "They should be accountable to the nation."
Asked whether Advani should resign as leader of the opposition, Moily said that was not for him to decide.
"It is for the respective party (to decide). They are accountable to the nation, they owe an explanation to the nation, they owe an apology to the nation. If they don't do it, it will be done. Such attitude or behaviour will be at the peril of that party," Moily added.
As for the Liberhan Commission giving a clean chit to P.V. Narasimha Rao, who was prime minister at that time, he said: "Demolition of the Babri masjid was an attempt to demolish the secular fabric of this country, the national fabric and nation ethos of the country... no doubt on it... whosoever has contributed will have to share it (the blame).
"Normally when a commission report is given, the Action Taken Report is not final. Follow-up action by various ministries has to pick up all the threads and take further steps.
"In an a important report like this (on an event) which has done irreparable damage to the country, topmost priority should be given for implementation by each ministry to work on it," he said.