<br/>In a setback to Mr. L K Advani in the Babri Masjid demolition case, a senior IPS officer told a special CBI court at Rae Bareli that the BJP leader made provocative speech at Ayodhya on the day the structure was brought down, 17 years ago. Deposing as a prosecution witness in the case, Ms. Anju Gupta said that Mr. Murli Manohar Joshi and Sangh activists like Vinay Katiyar, Uma Bharti and Sadhvi Rithambhara also made provocative speeches. The officer said, no leader ever appealed to stop the demolition, even as she saw people carrying tools like shovels and rods.<br/><br/> Ms Gupta, who was the personal security officer Mr. Advani during that period, told the court that Mr. Advani and other BJP leaders had repeatedly said that a Ram temple will be built at the same spot where the 16th century mosque stood. After her deposition, Ms. Gupta was cross-examined by the defence. The court later adjourned the hearing in the case to the 23rd of April when cross-examination of the IPS officer will resume.<br/><br/> The BJP has refused to comment on the deposition by senior IPS officer, Anju Gupta. The party spokesman, Mr. Ramnath Kovind said that since the issue is sub-judice, the law will take its own course.<br/><br/> In its reaction on the issue, the Congress said that the BJP and its leaders already stand convicted in the bar of public opinion over 18 years ago. The party spokeperson Abhishek Singhvi told newsmen in New Delhi that what was witnessed in December 1992 is now entering a phase of legal proof and legal finality. He said the provisions involved in the case are extremely serious as they involve creating animosity between the communities. Mr. Singhvi, however, said that there is a need to have a sense of balance and restraint as the judicial process is still on and it will not be fair to pre-judge the verdict. <br/><br/> The CPIM leader, Ms. Brinda Karat said that the whole country knows that the BJP leaders, including Mr. L.K. Advani were present at the time of demolition.