Mulayam regrets shooting order at 'Kar Sevaks' in Ayodhya, says country's unity is paramount

Lucknow: Almost 27 years after he ordered firing on 'Kar Sevaks' in Ayodhya, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Saturday once again expressed his regret over the incident and said 'the decision to order fire on them was a mistake'.

Mulayam was referring to the firing at Babri Masjid in 1990 when he was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

"I regret giving orders to shoot Kar Sevaks at Ayodhya in 1991. My decision to order for firing at Kar Ssevaks was to save Muslim minorities. This decision was needed to keep intact the faith of Muslims, the minorities in this country. However, it is also true that Samajwadi Party base had expanded after that incident," Mulayam Singh Yadav said.

The Samajwadi Party supremo was addressing party workers to commemorate the death anniversary of Janeshwar Mishra at Janeshwar Mishra in Lucknow. 

"I regret even now that sixteen people had died in the firing incident in Ayodhya," Mulayam said. 

He added further that 'had even 30 killed in the firing incident in 1990, he would have stayed intact as there was no other option available then. Country's unity is paramount'.

At least sixteen people were killed in the firing incident and several others were left wounded after Mulayam's firing order on Kar Sevaks in 1990. The BJP-backed VHP Ram temple movement was at the peak at that time. 

Mulayam, who was then the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, had to resign from his post following severe criticism from across the nation.