Ayodhya issue booms in Parliament

Uproarious scenes were also witnessed in the Rajya Sabha when Opposition members took strong objection to remarks by Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Nirupam who claimed that a temple in the disputed site was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babar. Order in the House was later restored and business continued.

Congress chief whip Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi cited the stand Advani had taken in the context of hawala case that he would not enter Parliament and take any official responsibility till he was proved innocent and demanded that the same yardstick be applied in Babri demolition case too.

Members belonging to Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party, Left parties and a couple of back-benchers of the Congress shouted slogans in the well protesting against delay in the conduct of trial in the case.

The issue was raked up during the question hour through a supplementary to a main query raised by Muslim League member G M Banatwala who wanted to know the government stand on the status of the dispute in Ayodhya and the "tardy" progress in the disposal of demolition cases.

Replying to the question, Advani said the status quo ordered by the Supreme Court was being duly maintained and there had been no violation, which failed to satisfy the members.

What created the problem was when Congress member Santosh Mohan Dev asked whether it was appropriate for ministers including Advani, who were accused in the case, to continue in the government.

This was objected to by members belonging to the ruling coalition who clashed with Opposition members.

The Opposition members also took exception to Shiv Sena members wearing scarves with Jai Shriram’ inscribed on them.

Speaker G M C Balayogi said he had not given permission to Sena MPs to wear scarves but disallowed Dev’s supplementary as not relevant. This led to further protests from Opposition members one of whom criticised the Speaker’s ruling.

As the decibel level rose, Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi signalled to her party members not to move into the well.

When asked by the Speaker, Advani declined to respond to the Opposition demand. He, however, said the Centre had no locus standi in the cases relating to the original title of the disputed land but would examine whether it can approach the Supreme Court for expediting cases.