{ NEW BIOGRAPHY } REVELATIONS 'Vajpayee had plan to solve Babri dispute, was upset by demolition’

As LK Advani's controversial Rath Yatra kicked up dust in the autumn of 1990, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his team came up with a formula to resolve the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

- HT Correspondent

Under the plan, the government would acquire 67 acres of land in Ayodhya to give to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, except for the disputed site, and refer the case to the Supreme Court. Then prime minister VP Singh agreed to issue an ordinance to the effect but Advani, who didn’t trust Singh, backed out of the deal. Vajpayee continued to try, convincing Singh the next day to unilaterally issue the ordinance. The president was “pulled out of his bed at 12.30 at night” to sign the ordinance.