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Demolition of Babri masjid a
heinous crime, says Mamata: PTI

"The demolition of the Masjid was a barbaric and heinous crime. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's recent statement on the Ram temple construction has created confusion and a message must go from him to clear the air. There should be no hidden agenda," TC leader Mamata Banerjee said.

Participating in the resumed debate on the Opposition-sponsored censure motion seeking the resignation of three Union ministers charge-sheeted in the demolition case, she said the Supreme Court's observations that status quo be maintained at Ayodhya should be followed in letter and spirit.

Interspersing her speech with Urdu couplets and Tagore's poems, she suggested that the Election Commission be empowered to ban a political party that used the religion card to garner votes during elections. "Otherwise such issues cannot be sorted out," she said.

On the demand for the resignation of L K Advani, M M Joshi and Uma Bharti, Banerjee said the issue was the prerogative of the prime minister.

Opposing the motion under Rule 184 entailing voting, she said it was duty of the Hindus to protect the interests of minorities and vice versa.

Recalling Sunday's meeting of NDA allies, Banerjee said Vajpayee has assured the partners that there would be no deviation from the national agenda that has put in the backburner issues like Ayodhya, the Uniform Civil Code and Article 370 of the Constitution providing special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Another assurance given was that the government would abide by the Supreme Court's verdict, she said, adding that a resolution had been passed.

"The interests of minorities are at our hearts and we must do everything to protect their rights," she said.

Referring to the controversy over Ayodhya, she said, "Nobody wanted to topple the government or embarrass anyone. But at the same time, we do not want to be embarrassed either".

Appealing to the House against taking any step that could create communal tension, she said the priority should not be to play the religion card but to ensure economic development on a war-footing.

Former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar voiced "disappointment" over the prime minister's remarks on the Ram temple construction, saying that "great damage" had been caused with the uncovering of the "hidden agenda".

Alleging that the BJP was following "double standards", he said the demand for resignation of the three ministers came in the wake of Harin Pathak being "asked" to step down as minister of state for defence after charges were framed against him an Ahmedabad court in a murder case.

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