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Trinamul, TDP come to govt's rescue

Outspoken ruling alliance partners - Trinamul Congress and Telegu Desam Party - on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in rebuffing the Congress-propelled Opposition motion demanding the resignations of three Union ministers charge-sheeted in the Ayodhya case.

They, however, emphasised that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had agreed on the National Democratic Alliance agenda of governance from which it could not deviate.

"Ours is a vast country with a multi-religious society and according to our Constitution, the people have the freedom of religion. My intention is not to hurt anybody, but it is our duty to express our views. No party can use the religious card for vote politics during times of elections and any party doing so should be banned," thundered Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee during the resumed debate on the Ayodhya issue.

She said that when the party, like the TDP, had joined Vajpayee's NDA government, ruling coalition partners had agreed that there would be a common minimum programnme and that its agenda of governance could not be deviated from.

She listed non-revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution, non-implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and the temple-mosque issue in Ayodhya and maintenance of status quo at the disputed site as her party's priorities.

She urged the prime minister to come out with a "clear-cut clarification'' during his reply to the debate on the issue to let the country know that there would be no deviation from the NDA agenda of governance.

Mamata underscored the prime minister's "stature'' as an international leader and pointed out that "we don't want to topple this government". She said her party would await the prime minister's message to the country and hoped he would reassure minorities that his government would protect their rights, as guaranteed in the Constitution.

TDP Lok Sabha leader Yerran Naidu rejected the Opposition demand for the resignations of Union ministers Lal Kishenchand Advani, Dr Murli Manohor Joshi and Uma Bharti - and pointed out that the issue was eight years old and sub judice.

He said, "We want to raise so many issues in the House, like the Andhra Pradesh farmers' issue, but are unable because Opposition parties are stalling proceedings. I don't understand why they don't move a no-confidence motion against the Vajpayee government," Naidu pointed out, adding that the Opposition was trying to extract political capital from a non-issue.

He contended that after Vajpayee had made his recent remark on Ayodhya, he along with Mamata had gone to the prime minister and sought clarifications. Terming Vajpayee's remark as "unwarranted, uncalled for and unnecessary", Naidu said his party would ensure that there was no compromise of the "secular fabric in the country''. The prime minister should make clarifications during his reply, he said.

Former prime minister Chandrashekhar criticised the prime minister for his "unfortunate'' statement and pointed out that it could not have been off-the-cuff.

"I know Vajpayeeji for over three and a half decades so his recent statement could only have been at the behest of some force," the former prime minister pointed out.

Contending that Vajpayee's "clean image had been sullied by his recent remark'', he said, "Any prime minister who compromises on his post's dignity is not worth it."

He criticised the Trinamul chief for " trying to play her secular card as well as trying to please the government."

He wondered whether the Vajpayee government was capable of looking after the country's security, especially since a member of the National Security Council had been criticising the government while there was no response from either the prime minister or Union home minister.

The debate witnessed usual catcalls and acrimonious interruptions from the treasury and Opposition benches.

Making his maiden speech in the House, Union minister Shahnawaz Hussain gladdened the hearts of members in the treasury benches by unleashing a protracted assault on the Opposition, specifically the Congress, for its alleged role in the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

Doing his homework, Hussain pinpointed the sequence of events which led to the demolition of the mosque in Ayodhya. He held the Congress primarily responsible for it, underscoring the party's role from the time the locks had been opened in Ayodhya in 1947 to the time images had been allowed to be installed in it on February1, 1986.

He alleged that the Opposition was trying to extract political mileage from the Ayodhya issue not for Muslims' welfare but by misguiding them on religious lines.

At one juncture, Hussain was interrupted by Samajwadi Party member and former filmstar Raj Babbar.

Babbar reacted angrily as Hussain also launched a tirade against SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Babbar advanced menacingly towards Hussain, but was prevented by some Opposition members.

Speaker G M C Balayogi appealed for order in the House and remarked "I don't understand where matters are going."

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

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