3.1 - Parliamentary elections were held in May-June, 1991, and elections to State Assemblies shortly thereafter. The Bharatiya Janata Party in its campaign concentrated on the issue of construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya at the disputed site, The BJP formed the Government in four States, including Uttar Pradesh in which the disputed structure was situated.

3.2. - In October 1991, the Government of UP acquired about 2.77 acres of land (Appendix-IV) around the RJB-BM structure. At the same time, it demolished some structures standing on this land (Appendix-V) such as the Falahari Baba and Keshav Das structures and a portion of the Sankat Mochan temple complex. In the light of the controversy which followed these developments, the National Intergration Council met on the 2nd November 1991 to discuss the subject of “Communal Harmony : Ram Janma
Bhoomi-Babri Masjid Issue.” During the constructive discussion in the meeting, the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh gave the following assurances :

(i) All efforts will be made to find an amicable resolution of the issue;

(ii) Pending a final solution, the Government of Uttar Pradesh will hold itself fully responsible for the protection of the Ram Janma Bhoomi-Babri Masjid structure.

(iii) Orders of the Court in regard to the land acquisition proceedings will be fully implemented;

(iv) Judgement of the Allahabad High Court in the cases pending before it will not be violated.

3.3 - These assurances were incorporated in the Resolution passed by the National Integration Council, copy of which is at Appendix-VI.

3.4 - In February 1992, the State authorities in UP commenced the construction of a wall enclosing a large area around Ram Janma Bhoomi-Babri Masjid including the land acquired in October 1991. Certain individuals and organisations announced this as a step towards the construction of the proposed temple. After the construction of the wall had begun, the Central Government had requested the State Government to indicate the development plans for construction work in the vicinity of the Ram Janma Bhoomi-Babri Masjid structure particularly, the land acquired in October, 1991 and the area falling within the wall under construction. In spite of repeated reminders details of these plans were not furnished by the State Government.

3.5 - In March 1992, the State Government leased out approximately 42 acres of land in the vicinity of the RJB-BM complex to an organisation called the Ram Janma Bhoomi Nyas. The State Government informed that the Ram Katha Park project had been formulated by the State Government but this could not be implemented. The RJB Nyas proposed to the State Government thet the Nyas will implement the project out of its own resources. Accordingly, the State Government decided to give the land to the Nyas on perpetual lease for the implementation of the Ram Katha Park project.

3:6 - In March 1992, the State authorities undertook demolition of additional structure in the Ram Janma Bhoomi-Babri Masjid complex, such as the Sankat Mochan Temple, major portion of the Sakshi Gopal Temple ( except for the room containing the deity and an adjoining room), Sumitra Bhavan, Lomas Ashram, Gopal Bhavan, and shops.

3.7 - Along with the demolition, extensive digging and levelling operations were also commenced. The earth dug from the area in front of the RJB-BM structure was transported and dumped on the western and southern sides. The RJB-BM structure had a steep slope on the west, gradient on the north and south, and level ground on the east. In addition, as a result of this digging operations, there was now a depression of 12 feet on the eastern side. These levelling and digging operation led to apprehensions in the minds of many people and caused concern about their possible effect on the strength and safety of the RJB-BM structure. Fear was also expressed that the collection of water during the rains in the dug up ground could seep to the foundation of the structure and weaken it. Smmilarly, the dumping of earth upto the height of the perimeter wall and the fencing around the structure could render these preventive security arrangements ineffective. These aspects were repeatedly brought to the notice of the State Government by the Central Government. A gist of the correspondence on the subject is at Appendix VII.

3.8 - Other works undertaken in the RJB-BM complex included soil testing at two sites, digging and levelling around the Shilanyas site, laying of a link road behind the Manas Bhavan and bhoomi pujan for a sheshavtar Lakshman temple within the newly constructed wall. There were reports of preparations for observing “Chaturmas” at Ayodhya on a large scale from 15 July 1992 onwards, and for holding meetings/sammelans of organisations connected with the construction of the proposed temple.

3.9 - In the meeting of the National Integration Council held on the 2nd November, 1991, the Chief Minister had given an invitation to the Council to visit Ayodhya. Following the discussion in Parliament in March 1992 on these matters, a decision was taken that a delegation comprising members of the Standing Committee of the National Integration Council aad representatives of political parties in Parliament should visit Ayodhya. The visit took place on 7th April 1992. The issues considered by the delegation, their conclusions thereon and the recommondations made are given in Appendix VIII. Briefly these recommendations concerned observance of the court orders, expediting the pending proceedings in the High Court, steps for a negotiated settlement, convening a meeting of the National Integration Council and placing the report before both Houses of Parliament. The Government circulated the report to the Members of Parliament and copies of it were also kept in the library of the Parliament. A meeting of the Standing Committee of the NIC was held on 23rd June, 1992 to consider the report. A meeting of the full NIC was also held on 18th July, 1992 in which this report was considered.

3.10 - The acquisition of the land by the Government of UP was challenged before ths Allahabad High Court in a number of writ potitions. The Lucknow beach of the High Court issued interim orders restraining the parties from undertaking any construction. Notwithstanding these orders construction activity on a large scale was started on a part of the acquired land in July, 1992. Government of India took up this matter with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to ensure that the orders of the Court were implemented. Home Minister personally visited Ayodhya on 12th July, 1992 to take stock of the situation arising from this construction as also the security arrangements made for the RJB-BM structure. The need to augment the security of the disputed structure was emphasised and various measures were suggested towards this, including making the close circuit TV operational. It was also observed that the Police Control Room which had been shifted from the original location was working from a temporary location which was rather small and at a longer distance. The Chief Minister of UP reacted favourably to Home Minister's vist and promised to implement the suggestions made. Claiming that it might lead to possible bloodshed, the Government of UP expressed its in-ability to enforce the orders and requested the Union Home Minister or the Prime Minister to intervene and convince the religious leaders to stop the kar seva. It was under these circumstances that the Prime Minister took the initiative in the matter.