Cong, BJP nexus behind notification -- Mayawati

Cong, BJP nexus behind notification -- Mayawati
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

LUCKNOW, FEB 13: BSP vice president Mayawati today charged the Congress and BJP with being hand in glove behind issuance of a "defective" notification for trial of eight accused, including Union Home Minister L K Advani, in the Babri masjid demolition case to save them politically.

Demanding a fresh notification, she told reporters here the "defective" notification which resulted in reprieve to eight BJP leaders, including Union ministers Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharati, was intended to save them politically.

In 1993, when the notification was issued the state was under President's rule with Congress in power at the Centre.

The Allahabad high court yesterday set aside as "improper and defective" the notification for trial of the eight accused and framing of charges against them in the case.

The CPI-M today also said it was "totally wrong" to portray the high court verdict as an exoneration of the eight accused in the Babri masjid demolition case and that the Vajpayee government cannot evade its responsibility to ensure that the guilty were brought to trial as per law.

The party polit bureau in a statement here said the decision of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court to set aside the framing of charges against Home minister L K Advani and seven others was purely on technical grounds.

The judgement upheld the framing of charges against 40 others in the case while the second notification concerning the eight accused was set aside on procedural ground that prior approval of the court was not obtained.

"It is incumbent upon the CBI to ensure that the case against the eight accused is pursued and brought to trial. The state government will have to remove the technical defect and get a fresh notification issued after going through the necessary formalities," it said.