Lucknow, April 9: Witness Dr S P Mittal a retired professor of history, Kurukshetra University, stated before the High Court here that the Sri Ram temple built by Gadhwal rulers was not the original temple but it was merely reconstructed by them.
The witness was replying to questions shot at him by Zafaryab Jilani, counsel for the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board.
When the counsel asked him where he had read that the temple was constructed by Gadhwal kings, the witness stated he has read it in Encyclopaedia Britannica, a book by Hans Baker.
When the counsel said that it is no where written that Babur destroyed a temple to build a mosque, the witness stated that because Babur built a mosque in the place where Lord Rama was born therefore it can be safely inferred that Babur destroyed the temple.
There was other material available in this regard.
When the counsel pointed out that Encyclopaedia Britannica states that the temple was built by Kannuj kings in 11th-12th century AD while you have stated in your affidavit that the Encyclopaedia states that it was built by Gadhwal kings in 10-11 century AD, the witness stated that by Kannuj kings he meant Gadhwal kings.
The Gadhwal kings were rulers of Kannuj. He admitted that he had wrongly stated that it was built in 10-11 century. The mistake is merely technical.
When the counsel asked him what other material he had to prove that babur destroyed Sri Ram Janmabhoomi temple and used its material to build mosque the witness stated that he has already referred to several books.
When the counsel suggested that the mosque was built on vacant land the witness reiterated that it was not built on vacant land but after destroying Sri Ram Janmabhoomi temple. Babur was a known fanatic and was not a liberal man.
What business had an invader coming from Samarkand to go straight to Ayodhya?
When the counsel asked the witness what he meant by word Sthan (place) in his affidavit the witness said he meant the Sri Ram Janmabhhomi temple and not a vacant piece of land
When the counsel asked him when there is vast difference between the meaning of Sthan and temple the witness stated that the word was substituted for temple.
In reply to another question the witness stated that he would not be able to reply questions regarding the length and breadth of the temple and how many Dwars ( gates) it had and no which direction was the main gate.
When the counsel asked the number of pillars on which the temple was built the witness stated that he wouldnt be able to reply this question too.
Counsel: It appears that you have not studied the subject deeply.
Witness: I have studied it deeply.
