Advani receives Ayodhya summons

Advani receives Ayodhya summons

Mr Advani is tipped as a future premier

Indian Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani has been ordered to appear in court in connection with the destruction of a mosque in 1992 by a Hindu mob.

A judge in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh said Mr Advani and seven senior hardline Hindu leaders must present themselves on 26 April.

The ruling came after all eight failed to turn up for a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday.

The demolition of the Babri Mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya triggered nationwide religious riots in which more than 2,000 people died.

The bloodshed was viewed as the most serious threat to India's secular identity since independence in 1947.

The hawkish Mr Advani, in opposition in 1992 but now tipped as a future prime minister, was accused by his critics of inciting communal passions which led to the destruction of the mosque.

His lawyers asked the court to exempt him from appearing in person but this was rejected.

Digging for truth

Hardline Hindus say the Babri mosque was built on the ruins of a temple which marked the birthplace of the Hindu God, Ram.

LEGAL BATTLE

Supreme Court bans religious activity till land ownership is resolved

Allahabad High Court determining whether Hindus or Muslims own the land

High Court orders site to be excavated to see if a temple existed below the mosque

They want to build a temple in its place.

The land in question was acquired by the government after the demolition of the mosque and is under its care until the ownership dispute is resolved.

In March the Indian Supreme Court incensed Hindu right-wingers when it rejected a plea to allow religious activities to take place around the disputed holy site.

Excavations have been taking place to try to establish whether a Hindu temple ever existed at the site, as the hardliners claim.

Details of the archaeologists' work have not been made public.