A much-awaited meeting between Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi failed to materialise today while a most unexpected peace-broker, Defence Minister George Fernandes, stepped in.Fernandes called on Joshi at his residence to apparently persuade him to withdraw his resignation. The meeting lasted 95 minutes. After the meeting, Fernandes said: ‘‘I came to discuss something personal with him.’’ Joshi, who came out later, said: ‘I came out because I learnt that you are all standing outside. I have nothing to say.’’Later, MoS for Coal Prahlad Singh Patel called on Joshi. Patel, who represents the Balaghat constituency of MP, is a confidante of former Union minister Uma Bharati. Both belong to the same Lodh community. Patel was inducted in to the ministry following lobbying by Bharati. She is a co-accused with Joshi in the Babri demolition case. The efforts of various BJP leaders to persuade Joshi to withdraw his resignation notwithstanding, the curtains would be drawn on this drama only after the PM returns from his foreign visit.
