NEW DELHI, 1 October 2003 — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday rejected Human Resource and Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi’s resignation from the federal Cabinet, ending an 11-day-old drama. However, a court ruling on the Ayodhya issue boosted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s chances of exploiting it for electoral gains.
Joshi submitted his resignation on Sept, 19 after a court in Rae Bareli in the northern Uttar Pradesh state decided to frame charges against him and others while acquitting Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani of playing any role in the demolition of Babri Masjid on Dec. 6 1992. Challenging the Rae Bareli court order, Joshi on Monday filed a criminal revision petition in the Allahabad High Court seeking a stay on the proceedings claiming that his case stood completely at par with that of co-accused Advani who was discharged.
Yesterday the Lucknow bench of high court stayed framing of charges against him in the mosque demolition case by the lower court. The charges were to be framed on Oct. 10. Justice Y.R. Tripathi of the high court also summoned the records of the Rae Bareli court and posted the matter for further hearing on Nov. 4. Until then proceedings against Joshi at the Rae Bareli court are to remain stayed.
When Joshi called Vajpayee to inform him of the high court verdict, the prime minister rejected his resignation and congratulated him on his getting a court reprieve.
Joshi told reporters that he accepted Vajpayee’s decision with “humility.” Describing the case as “politically motivated,” which “does not involve issues of moral turpitude,” Joshi said: “The Allahabad High Court has stayed the Rae Bareli special court order which made me submit my resignation to uphold the highest moral traditions.”
Although he denied his involvement in the demolition of the mosque, Joshi displayed his commitment to the Sangh Parivar and extremist Hindu parties’ temple agenda by saying, “I feel the time is ripe for finding an amicable solution to the Ayodhya issue. Overwhelming public opinion favors that building a magnificent temple at the birth place of Sri Ram would bring peace in the country, creating emotional bridges of happiness and brotherhood among all citizens.” Advani also congratulated Joshi on the high court ruling.
BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu said that there was no need for anyone to resign. “It is a political case and we will fight it politically and legally,” Naidu added.
The main opposition Congress party described the rejection of Joshi’s resignation by the premier as “a high drama and a low comedy.” “The verdict of the Allahabad High Court is of a temporary nature. Rejection of resignation of Joshi was not unexpected. It was always in the pipeline. It was all high drama and low comedy,” party spokesman S. Jaipal Reddy said. Reddy reiterated the Congress stand on “gross misuse” of the Central Bureau of Investigation by those in the government, including Advani.
Questioning the role of the CBI in the case, Congress has written a letter to Vajpayee. Releasing the letter last week, senior party leader P.R. Dasmunshi said: “The CBI must keep itself above controversy and be seen independent and is expected to function according to the law. It should not only file a revision petition against the order of discharge of Advani but argue it diligently and forcefully.”
