New Delhi, May 28: Congress today said it was surprised over the Centre`s stand before the Liberhan Commission that a temple existed at the disputed site in Ayodhya before the construction of Babri Masjid saying the government cannot conduct itself in a "partisan" manner in a title suit. "Home ministry has submitted an affidavit before the Liberhan Commission that the government believes that Ram mandir existed before construction of Babri masjid. It`s a strange affidavit...The government cannot behave in a cloak and dagger fashion nor can it conduct itself in a partisan way in a title suit", party spokesman S Jaipal Reddy told reporters here.

"Nobody knows who took this view. Whether this matter was discussed in the cabinet, or on the basis in which the home ministry arrived at the conclusion," he said.

He wanted to know from the non-BJP NDA coalition partners whether it was part of the NDA agenda and whether they were taken into confidence.

"This once again shows that the NDA government is run on the agenda of BJP," Reddy said.

Bureau Report