BJP to sit tight, no fresh notification

BJP to sit tight, no fresh notification
SHARAD GUPTA & AMIT SHARMA

NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW, FEB 13: The UP government is unlikely to issue a fresh notification to restart prosecution of eight top BJP-VHP leaders including three Union Ministers. Though pressure is mounting on the BJP from opposition and allied parties and the muslim leaders to issue a fresh notification with prior High Court permission, theCentral BJP leadership informs that the Government is determined not to bow to arm-twisting by the coalition partners.

While Chief Minister Rajnath Singh is defencive -- ``We will act as per constitutional provisions; we have not studied the judgement'' -- the top BJP leaders in New Delhi, after discussing the verdict this evening, concluded that only political parties, and not the masses, are concerned about the issue.

``There was no merit in the CBI case against them. I hope UP Government will take a decision by keeping this in mind,'' BJP general secretary Sahib Singh Varma told The Indian Express. ``We are ready to have Assembly elections within next six months. But, none of the opposition parties want early polls,'' said another office bearer.

There are three options, says party vice president Jana Krishnamurthy, before the UP government. First, going in for appeal in the apex court against the High Court order. Secondly, reissuing the notification in corrected form. Thirdly, sitting tightly and not issue fresh notification. ``Of course, we would prefer the third option. This is the final verdict,'' quipped a senior party another.

Union Sports Minister Uma Bharti described the verdict as ``a just decision'' because the entire case was fabricated. ``The manner in which the case was filed, smacked of political motive,'' she told The Indian Express today.

But the Opposition won't let the opportunity to nail the BJP go by so easily. BSP leader Mayawati and SP state chief Ram Sharan Das claimed that the court verdict had only highlighted that the BJP and the Congress were hand-in-glove in the conspiracy for demolishing the structure.

The Congress camp, however, has maintained a studied silence on the issueso far. ``There is no basis of the party being hand-in-glove with the BJP. We also demand a fresh notification but it should not do anything in haste,'' said party spokesman Akhislesh Pratap Singh.

The Muslim leaders, however, are in no mood to sit idle and have planned tomeet the Prime Minister also to request him for directing the stategovernment in this connection. ``It's high time the Rajnath Singh government should demonstrate its respect for the law,'' said Zafaryab Jilani, convenor of the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC).

The All India Muslim Forum has planned to hold a rally on February 24 in which all secular leaders would be invited.