Bhopal, July 19: NCP president Sharad Pawar today demanded immediate resignation of Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani "in view of the alleged involvement" of the latter in the demolition of the disputed strcture at Ayodhya and the CBI claims of `clinching evidence' against him. "In view of the serious charges against Advani in the case, he (Advani) should keep himself away from the government," Pawar told reporters here.
When asked specifically whether Union Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi should also resign, pawar said, "What else? .. BJP talks of values, morality and principles. It will be proper for them to be away from office before the matter is settled."
"The CBI, which has been investigating the case is under the Prime Minister and it would not be appropriate for senior BJP leaders to remain in the government," he said.
Besides Advani and Joshi, senior BJP leader Uma Bharati, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister kalyan singh and four others have been accused by the CBI in the case wherein CBI has cited statements of several witnesses before the special court in Rae Bareli, claiming that these leaders among others had raised provocative slogans before the disputed structure in Ayodhya was pulled down on December six, 1992. Bureau Report