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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, NOV 19: Opposition parties have resolved to mount a combined onslaught on the Vajpayee Government in Parliament, demanding the resignations of three Union ministers involved in the Babri Masjid demolition case, besides moving an adjournment motion seeking a total rollback in the hike in the prices of petroleum products.
At a meeting of leaders of various Opposition parties on the eve of the winter session, they decided to press for the resignations of ministers L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti. The move clearly draws inspiration from the recent resignation of Union Minister of State for Defence Harin Pathak, who has been chargesheeted for his role in a murder.
Senior CPI(M) leader Somnath Chatterjee told reporters after the meeting thatthe Opposition would also demand a thorough debate on the Kargil war and foreign policy.
Significantly, the meeting decided to have an effective floor co-ordination among Opposition parties so that issues can be highlighted better. It agreed that the leaders should meet regularly during the session to chalk outa common strategy in Parliament.
On the issue of petroleum prices, the meeting felt that the indicated partialroll-back of prices was unacceptable as it was only aimed at appeasing NDA partners like the Trinamool Congress and the TDP.
Among others, the meeting was attended by former prime minister Chandra Shekhar, Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh of the Rashtriya Janata Dal).
