The Congress on Wednesday described the Centre's recent submission before the Liberhan Commission of Enquiry that the existence of a temple at the disputed site was an 'undisputed fact' as a 'brazen departure' from the earlier position.

Issuing a statement, Congress spokesman Anand Sharma said, "This is unbecoming of a government that has a constitutional obligation to uphold the rule of law. Therefore the adoption of a partisan communal position by the BJP-led government on a sensitive issue to deliberately subvert the due process of investigation and justice is most reprehensible."

Sharma said the Centre is trying to supplement the defence of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, especially Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, who are being investigated for their role in the demolition at Ayodhya.