New Delhi, Dec 13: The Opposition in the Lok Sabha today moved a censure motion seeking removal of three chargesheeted ministers and the resignation of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee accusing him of mounting the "chauvinist Hindutva tiger" but the Government hit back saying the Congress and other parties were attempting to revive communal tension by raking up the Babri Masjid issue.After a week-long standoff following Vajpayee's controversial remarks on the Ram Temple construction, the two sides settled down to discussing the issue through a Congress-sponsored motion under rule 184 that called for dropping of L K Advani, M M Joshi and Uma Bharti against whom prima facie charges have been found in the demolition case.The motion, on which voting will take place tomorrow after the Prime Minister's reply to the debate, also attacks Vajpayee for seeking to "exonerate" the three ministers.Leading the Opposition attack, Congress member S Jaipal Reddy said Vajpayee had lost his moral right to remain in office by his comments on the Ayodhya issue after which his "mukhota" (mask) has slipped.By his statement that the movement for Ram Temple was an expression of nationalist feeling, the Prime Minister had completed his pilgrimage from "hypocrisy to theocracy," he alleged, adding "it was not not a slip of tongue but the slip of masks".However, the issue continued to rock Rajya Sabha which adjourned today without transaction of any business after Government and Opposition failed to agree on a similar censure motion in the House.Slamming the three ministers for their continuance in office, Reddy said the demolition of the masjid was a colossal crime and the CBI had contended that Advani was involved in the criminal conspiracy hatched at the residence of BJP MP Vinay Katiyar in Ayodhya.He also attacked the Prime Minister for drawing a "dangerous" distinction between corruption and political issues for ministers to quit office.In a spirited defence of the Government, Law Minister Arun Jaitley accused the Opposition of attempting to revive communal tension by raking up the eight-year-old issue.He maintained that the demand for resignation of the ministers amounted to "interference" in the Prime Minister's prerogative and in the course of justice.Jaitley laid the blame on Congress doors for "heightening" religious sentiments by opening the locks of the disputed structure in 1986 followed by `shilanyas' (foundation laying) in 1989.The Minsiter also said the Prime Minister had not stated anything new except to reiterate that dispute could be settled either through negotiations or court verdict.So far, none of the major allies of BJP, which had taken a strident line against the Prime Minister's remarks, have spoken in the debate except MDMK leader Vaiko who strongly defended the government and attacked the Congress.Leaders of NDA allies - Trinamool Congress, TDP, DMK and JD (U) - met among to firm up their strategy on the motion which will come up for voting tomorrow.Somnath Chatterjee of CPI-M accused the Prime Minister of trying to interfere in the due process of law in the Ayodhya case by virtually trying to exonerate Advani, Joshi and Bharti. The CBI chargesheet was enough ground for raising question of propriety against the three Union Ministers, he said.He said Vajpayee through his remarks on the temple issue not only sought to keep the fundamentalist, obscurantist elements in good humour but triggered disturbances in some places.Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav accused the Congress of being the root cause of the Ayodhya problem and said the Vajpayee Government came to power due to "wrong" policies of the Congress government.He said Vajpayee had raised the Ayodhya issue to divert attention from problems facing farmers and the common man.Accusing BJP of dividing the country on communal lines, Singh defended his government's action as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister when `kar sevaks' were fired upon en route to Ayodhya.Meanwhile, BSP leader Mayawati today declared in the Lok Sabha that her party would abstain from voting tomorrow on the Opposition-sponsored censure motion seeking resignation of three chargesheeted Union Ministers since both BJP and Congress were equally responsible for the demolition of the Babri Masjid."We demand that those holding key positions in then Congress Government when Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992 and the three chargesheeted Ministers should be taken to task," she said participating in the debate on the Ayodhya issue.Referring to the Prime Minister's controversial remarks on Ram Temple construction, Mayawati said although Vajpayee was not known for such statements, he possibly made them in view of the "vote bank politics" being played in Uttar Pradesh where assembly elections are scheduled for next year.
