BJP today demanded an apology from SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav for having ordered firing on 'karsewaks' in Ayodhya in 1990 in which 16 people were killed, saying merely "feeling sad" would not console the families of those who died.

"The 'karsewaks' on whom the Mulayam government ordered firing were barehanded. In such a case, firing on them was a heinous crime," BJP spokesman VIjay Bahadur Pathak said here.

He said that the firing was done at a time when it had already been announced that 'karsewa' was going to be symbolic.

About 25 years after the incident, the SP chief had yesterday said he "felt sad" for having ordered firing on 'karsewaks' in Ayodhya in 1990 but it was done as it was necessary to save the religious place.

"25 years later he is feeling sad which will not suffice and end the suffering of those who lost their family members," Pathak said.

He demanded that the SP supremo should apologise to the family members of the 'karsewaks' who lost their loved ones in the incident.