Ayodhya -- Govt under attack in Oppn-dominated RS

Ayodhya -- Govt under attack in Oppn-dominated RS
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, DEC 18: Government today came under attack in the Opposition-dominated Rajya Sabha during a discussion on censure motion on the Ayodhya issue and asked not to compromise with secularism but its key allies DMK and TDP openly came in its support with the condition that no communal agenda should be pursued.

The censure motion disapproving Vajpayee's statement ruling out the resignation of three Union ministers, chargesheeted in the Babri masjid demolition case, will be the first major showdown the government will be facing in the Upper House. A similar censure motion was rejected by the Lok Sabha last week.

Voting on the motion is likely on Tuesday after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's reply.

A defeat for the government appeared looming large as BJP and it allies have strength of only 97 as against 120 of the Opposition in a House of 245. But the reverse would not affect the survival of the government as defeat in the Upper House has no constitutional implications.

As the treasury benches hit back by saying the issue was being raked up for political gains, DMK and TDP made it clear that they were with the government following his assurance that the coalition would abide by the court ruling on the Ayodhya issue.

Moving the motion, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee said the Prime Minister giving clean chit to the three ministers tantamounted to his pre-judging the issue.

Mukherjee said a clear message had to go from the House that no compromise would be made with the secular character of the Constitution and this should be reflected in terms of the outcome of the voting.

Spearheading the ruling party's battle, Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj denied the Opposition charge that the Prime Minister was trying to influence the CBI probe by giving a clean chit to the three ministers.

"Vajpayee has categorically stated that the law will take its own course. But he personally believed that the three ministers were innocent," she said.

Striking a similar chord, Rural Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu accused the Congress of raising the issue to arouse communal passion.

Rejecting the demand for resignation of the three ministers, Naidu held out an olive branch saying that the NDA government was committed to keep out the contentious issues and the government was ready for a political consensus on Ayodhya.

Another Congress stalwart, Kapil Sibal made a scathing attack on Vajpayee saying his recent utterances were against the rule of law and in direct conflict with the findings of the CBI and the trial court.

"It is time to clear the mess. On December 6, the country saw the violators of law and you say it is an expression of National sentiment", Sibal said addressing the Prime Minister in a poetic manner.

Ruling alliance partner DMK member P N Siva warned the government to put a "moratorium" on contentious issues saying that his party would not remain at a place where there is a "bad odour" of communalism.

Shiva said his party stood by the NDA government as the Prime Minister had assured that he will stand by the verdict of the Supreme Court on the issue.

K M Saifullah (TDP) said his party would part ways with NDA if it compromised with national agenda of governance.

Supporting the motion, Left party members wanted the three ministers to resign in line with the tradition. If they do not quit on their own, Prime Minister should intervene, they said.

Defending the Prime Minister's remarks, Sanjay Nirupam (Shiv Sena) said all that Vajpayee had said it was national sentiment that a temple should be build at Ayodhya which did not mean that the NDA Government was going ahead with temple construction.

He said that Vajpayee had strived to honour the sensitivity of both the Hindus and Muslims and this was apparent from his recent decision to announce a unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan.

The Samajwadi Party as the RJD made it clear that they would support the motion. However, the four member strong BSP group which had abstained in the Lok Sabha, had not made their intentions clear.