Rath gone, Yatra ON…

The memorandum said the profiles of these ministers showed that for the sake of power, democratic traditions had been given a go-by. The document listed charges against Railways Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, Coal and Mines Minister Shibu Soren and Ministers of State Taslimuddin, Jai Prakash Yadav, M.A. Fatimi and Prem Chand Gupta. The NDA requested the President to take up the issue with the PM and ensure the ministers were out of the government for the sake of ‘‘parliamentary democracy, public interest, national security and norms of probity in public life’’.

‘‘The President agreed to consider our demand,’’ BJP leader Arun Jaitley told reporters. He said the delegation also took up with Kalam the issue of alleged involvement of Minister for Non-Resident Affairs Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 riots.

When pointed out that even the NDA Government had chargesheeted ministers, Jaitley said: ‘‘These ministers (in UPA) have been charged with corruption, abuse of power, mafia-related crimes, kidnapping and murder.’’

Jaitley did not, however, divulge the NDA’s strategy on its demand. ‘‘Wait for for the President’s address,’’ he said.