On Babri anniversary, PM yearns for the temple

Strongly defending Union Ministers L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti, all chargesheeted for 8220;criminal conspiracy8221; to demolish the Babri Masjid on this day eight years ago, the PM rejected the Opposition demand for their resignations saying it was 8220;uncalled for.8221;

But what could further incense the Opposition, which paralysed Parliament proceedings for the third day, and put the BJP8217;s 8220;secular8221; allies in an awkward position was his expression of support to the temple movement. And his claim that the three Ministers went to Ayodhya not to pull down the structure but to 8220;protect8221; it.

The PM8217;s statement comes in the wake of mounting pressure from hardline BJP MPs like Swami Chinmayanand and Adityanath who have been pressing the government to strongly defend the Opposition onslaught in Parliament. That he chose to go so far as to defend the movement for temple construction is being seen as his attempt to address this constituency of the aggressive pro-Hindutva section in the party.

Asked about the resignation of Minister of State for Defence Harin Pathak, accused in a murder case dealing to caste-communal riots in Gujarat, Vajpayee said that was in keeping with the BJP8217;s 8220;principles.8221;

There was instant disapproval of the PM8217;s statement by the TDP though some of the other BJP allies, though embarrassed, seemed to be willingto strike but afraid to wound. 8220;It was not necessary at this juncture especially when Vajpayee himself has categorically said in Parliament twice that the government stood by the NDA agenda,8221; TDP parliamentary wing chief K. Yerran Naidu said.

8220;It may be the individual agenda of one party but temple construction does not figure in the NDA agenda,8221; he said.

As was expected, the Opposition did not allow any business, not even questionhour, to be transacted in either House of Parliament. The moment the Lok Sabha met, Congress and Samajwadi Party members engaged themselves in a mad scramble to reach the well of the House with an agile Akhilesh of the SP outstripping everybody. They tore the day8217;s agenda papers right under the nose of Speaker G M C Balayogi who did not lose much time in ordering the switching of the telecast of proceedings. Opposition members in the House of Elders were only slightly less unruly.

For the Congress, Vajpayee8217;s statement couldn8217;t have come at a more opportune time as it has invested its attack with a sharper focus. Its spokesman Anand Sharma described the statement as 8220;most unfortunate and deplorable.8221;

8220;The PM8217;s pronouncement of a verdict of innocence of his chargesheeted ministers when the matter is subjudice betrays a lack of respect for the law of the land,8221; he said.