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Advani discharged; Joshi, six others to face charges
Rae Bareli/New Delhi, Sept 19: In a verdict that could have political repercussions, a special court in Rae Bareli today discharged Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani butdecided to frame charges against HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and six others in the Babri Masjid demolition case shortly after which Joshi resigned from the Union Cabinet.
Rae Bareli/New Delhi, Sept 19: In a verdict that could have political repercussions, a special court in Rae Bareli today discharged Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani but
decided to frame charges against HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and six others in the Babri Masjid demolition case shortly after which Joshi resigned from the Union Cabinet.
Pronouncing his 130 page order in a jam-packed court room, special judge V K Singh said in the operative portion that accused L K Advani is being discharged from charges under Sections 147, 149, 153 (a), 153 (b) and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.
Amidst shouting of `Jai Shri Ram` slogans by VHP and Shiv Sena activists, he said that charges will be framed against the other accused - - Joshi, BJP leaders Uma Bharati and Vinay Katiyar, VHP leaders Ashok Singhal, V H Dalmia, Acharya Giriraj Kishore and Sadhvi Rithambhara -- under these five sections. They relate to rioting, unlawful assembly, promoting enmity between communities on grounds of religion, imputations prejudicial to national integration and public mischief.
He asked all the seven to appear in the court personally on October 10 when charges will be framed.
As word of the court order spread, Joshi spoke to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was in Istanbul, Turkey and sent his resignation to him. Joshi also talked to Advani and BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, who told him there was no need for him to resign.
"Yesterday, I had said I will resign if charges are framed against me. So, I have sent my resignation today," Joshi told reporters at his residence.
Advani told reporters that when Joshi talked to him over telephone, he had advised him to accept the party view that he need not resign. Lawyers would study the judgement and advise the party on the future course of action.
The Deputy Prime Minister said he had "mixed feelings" since he had been personally exonerated but charges were being framed against his colleagues. "It would have been a feeling of elation if all my colleagues had also been exonerated which has not happened," he said.
As for himself, Advani said there has been a systematic attempt to malign him in the Ayodhya case and his critics had termed the Ayodhya movement as communal undermining secularism.
In his order, the judge also cancelled the personal bond of Advani and discharged him from the responsibilities of his sureties.
While counsel for all the accused Mridul Rakesh said he would talk to his clients on whether to go in appeal against the court order, CBI counsel R K Saini said the agency would examine the judgement before deciding whether to appeal against the discharge of Advani.
Amidst shouting of `Jai Shri Ram` slogans by VHP and Shiv Sena activists, he said that charges will be framed against the other accused - - Joshi, BJP leaders Uma Bharati and Vinay Katiyar, VHP leaders Ashok Singhal, V H Dalmia, Acharya Giriraj Kishore and Sadhvi Rithambhara -- under these five sections. They relate to rioting, unlawful assembly, promoting enmity between communities on grounds of religion, imputations prejudicial to national integration and public mischief.
He asked all the seven to appear in the court personally on October 10 when charges will be framed.
As word of the court order spread, Joshi spoke to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was in Istanbul, Turkey and sent his resignation to him. Joshi also talked to Advani and BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, who told him there was no need for him to resign.
"Yesterday, I had said I will resign if charges are framed against me. So, I have sent my resignation today," Joshi told reporters at his residence.
Advani told reporters that when Joshi talked to him over telephone, he had advised him to accept the party view that he need not resign. Lawyers would study the judgement and advise the party on the future course of action.
The Deputy Prime Minister said he had "mixed feelings" since he had been personally exonerated but charges were being framed against his colleagues. "It would have been a feeling of elation if all my colleagues had also been exonerated which has not happened," he said.
As for himself, Advani said there has been a systematic attempt to malign him in the Ayodhya case and his critics had termed the Ayodhya movement as communal undermining secularism.
In his order, the judge also cancelled the personal bond of Advani and discharged him from the responsibilities of his sureties.
While counsel for all the accused Mridul Rakesh said he would talk to his clients on whether to go in appeal against the court order, CBI counsel R K Saini said the agency would examine the judgement before deciding whether to appeal against the discharge of Advani.
Bureau Report