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Journalism of Courage
The main Opposition parties today decided to corner the Government on the issue of the CBI ‘‘dropping the charge of criminal conspiracy’’ against Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and other senior BJP and VHP leaders in the Babri demolition case. An adjournment motion is being planned for the monsoon session of Parliament beginning tomorrow.
That two successive governments — of Rajnath Singh and Mayawati — had shied away from curing a technical defect in the chargesheet, forcing the CBI to adopt this course of action, and that the response is rather late was lost in the din generated by Opposition unity on the eve of the session.
The decision was taken at a meeting called by Congress president and the Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi.
It was decided to move the motion seeking an explanation from the Government.
On a rain-drenched evening, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Laloo Prasad Yadav and Somnath Chatterjee, among others, met at the residence of Sonia over tea to work out a floor strategy.
There seemed to be a clear consensus on issues like misuse of CBI, Taj heritage corridor, frequent rail accidents, CAS, a discussion on the ATR on the JPC report into the stock and UTI scam, Tehelka case and farmers problems.
Contentious issues like reservations for women in the House were put on the backburner on the ground that the opposition parties would wait for the Government to first bring the Bill.
Saying that their ‘‘worst fears have come true’’ about the demolition case, Congress spokesperson Jaipal Reddy said, ‘‘There was a consensus that the first priority would be to take up the issue of abuse of the CBI by the Government in getting Advani, Joshi and other senior leaders of Sangh Parivar cleared of conspiracy and connivance in the demolition case.
‘‘The opposition has been arguing for over three years that continuation of Advani as a minister, especially Home Minister, would result in injustice with regard to this huge criminal case and our worst fears have now come true,’’ he said, announcing the move to bring about an adjourment motion on Monday. He was supported by Mulayam and Laloo.
Earlier, stressing that this was the ‘‘last Lok Sabha session,’’ Laloo said, ‘‘It’s a great achievement that all opposition parties have come together…you will see opposition unity both inside and outside Parliament.’’
‘‘We are also going to raise the Best Bakery case and the way the Government has not yet appealed in the matter,’’ Somnath Chatterjee said.
Among the Congress leaders present were Pranab Mukherjee, Shivraj Patil, Priyaranjan Dasmunsi and Ahmed Patel.
Among those absent were Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh who is in Bangalore for a public meeting, Lok Janshakti Party’s Ram Vilas Paswan, who was participating in a cycle rally, and formerPrime Minister H D Deve Gowda who is in Karnataka.
After much debate within the party, the Congress had decided against calling National Conference chief Omar Abdullah.
