In a claim that tears apart the Sangh Parivar’s stand, a book authored by a former top Intelligence Bureau (IB) official says Babri Masjid demolition had been planned 10 months in advance by top leaders of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP). This raises questions over the way the then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao had handled the issue.

A compilation of several sensational claims by former IB Joint Director Maloy Krishna Dhar, in his book 'Open Secrets - India's Intelligence Unveiled' alleges, "Around February 1992, soon after the flop 'Ekta Yatra' of Murli Manohar Joshi, I was directed to arrange technical coverage of a key meeting of the Sangh Parivar. The meeting was to be attended by Lal Krishna Advani, MM Joshi, Rajju Bhaiya (then RSS chief), KS Sudarshan, Vijaya Raje Scindia, HS Sheshadri, Vinay Katiyar, Uma Bharati and Champat Rai among others," the author says.

Unfazed by questions whether he was worried that the book might cause problems because he was disclosing confidential matters, Dhar has said "I have written it after a lot of thinking and consideration." About possible court cases against him, he says, "Let's see. Now I have written it. But I don't apprehend any legal problems."

The "audio and videotape" contents of the meeting "proved beyond doubt that the high priests of hatred had helped the Sangh Parivar to adopt a strident Hindutva programme soon after the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

The book says that the February meeting "proved beyond doubt that they (RSS, BJP, VHP) had drawn up the blueprint of the Hindutva assault in the coming months and choreographed the 'pralaya nritya' (dance of destruction) at Ayodhya in December 1992." "The RSS, BJP, VHP and the Bajrang Dal leaders present in the meeting amply agreed to work in a well-orchestrated manner," the sleuth says.

Referring to the meeting of RSS, VHP, BJP and Shiv Sena leaders, including Advani and MM Joshi on 5 December 1992, the author says, "There was silent resoluteness and agreement that Ayodhya offered a unique opportunity to take the Hindutva wave to the peak for deriving political benefit. The iron was hot and this was the time to hit."

Dhar, who outlines how he merged with the huge crowds of 'kar sevaks' pretending to be a journalist and got the proceedings shot on December 6,1992, says vandalism was committed by activists of the Shiv Sena while Sangh Parivar leaders indulged in "irresponsible rhetoric".