Search the Internet           Tips

Naidu rules out ministers' resignation

Union Rural Development Minister N Venkaiah Naidu Saturday reiterated that the Centre was committed to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) agenda and said there was no question of the resignation of three Union ministers chargesheeted in the Ayodhya case.

''Come what may, L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti will not resign,'' he told a press conference in Panjim.

Pointing out that the previous Congress government had withdrawn many cases against its leaders, including Indira Gandhi after coming to power, he said, ''We have not withdrawn cases against our leaders. We are allowing the law to take its own course.''

Naidu said the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya was not on the NDA's agenda which, he said, would not be deviated from or diluted.

Referring to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's statement regarding finding a solution to the Ayodhya imbroglio, Naidu said Vajpayee has not said anything new and the suggestion for holding discussions with the Muslim community or leaving the matter to the courts to decide had come up even in the past.

''He did not give a judgement on what should be done,'' he pointed out.

The Union minister clarified that there was no pressure from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). ''Being an organisation, the RSS will definitely have its own views. But the RSS did not have the habit of exerting pressurise on any government,'' he said and pointed out that the government had rejected the RSS suggestion to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir.

Accusing the Congress and Communists of raking up the Ayodhya issue and demanding the resignation of three Union ministers without reason or provocation, Naidu said these opposition parties were rattled over peace and communal harmony during the last two years and path-breaking decisions taken by the Vajpayee government.

When it was pointed out that NDA allies, including the Telugu Desam Party and Trinamul Congress, have asked the prime minister to clarify his stand on Ayodhya, Naidu evaded a direct reply, saying that they have discussed the matter with Vajpayee and were satisfied. He said the Opposition parties, which had run short of issues, were now trying to divert the attention of the people by not allowing Parliament to function.

UNI

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report