New Delhi:

Here’s a brief look at the four who are standing trial in the case and the charges against them.

Lal Krishna Advani

Born on November 8, 1927, Lal Krishna Advani, known as LK Advani, is a veteran Indian politician and a senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He served as Minister of Home Affairs in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government from 1998 to 2004. Additionally, he served as Deputy Prime Minister of India from 2002 to 2004 under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the 10th Lok Sabha and 14th Lok Sabha. He began his political career as a volunteer of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu nationalist organisation. He is charged with making inflammatory speeches that motivated hundreds of thousands of ‘karsevaks’ (right-wing volunteers) to pull down the Babri mosque on December 6, 1992.

Murli Manohar Joshi

Born on January 5, 1934, Murli Manohar Joshi is a leading member of BJP of which he was the President between 1991 and 1993. He later became the Union Human Resources Development minister in the National Democratic Alliance government. Currently, he is Member of Parliament from Kanpur constituency. He is best known for his views on Hindu socio-politics and for his affiliation with the Hindu fundamentalist outfit RSS. He is charged with instigating ‘karsevaks’ into demolishing the 16th century Babri mosque in 1992.

Uma Bharti

Born on May 3, 1959, Uma Bharti is Cabinet Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in the current Narendra Modi-led union government. Raised by Vijaya Raje Scindia of Gwalior, she became involved with the BJP at a very young age, unsuccessfully contesting her first Parliamentary elections in 1984. In 1989, she successfully contested the Khajuraho seat, and retained it in elections conducted in 1991, 1996 and 1998. In 1999, she switched constituencies and won the Bhopal seat. She was one of the most prominent leaders in the controversial Ram Janmabhoomi movement of the 1980s and 1990s. She was present at the demolition of the Babri mosque, and was later indicted by the Liberhan Commission for playing a role in the incident.

Kalyan Singh

Born on January 5, 1932, Kalyan Singh is currently the Governor of Rajasthan. He has served two terms as the Chief Minister (CM) of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and was appointed Governor of Rajasthan on August 26, 2014. Singh is known for his active role in the Babri mosque demolition. Addressing media after the incident in 1992, he had said that he owned full responsibility for the demolition of the 16th century mosque. Taking moral responsibility, he resigned from the post of UP CM soon after the demolition of the mosque. He is charged with inciting mob to raze the structure.