London, July 23: Dismissing allegation that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has "pressurised" CBI to drop conspiracy charge against Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and others in the Babri Masjid demolition case, HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi has said all the FIRs were registered during the Congress regime and the case was being argued on that basis. "I am one of the accused and the matter is sub-judice. The allegation that Prime Minister has pressurised CBI to drop cases is baseless and there has been no interference from the side of the government," Joshi told reporters here yesterday.
Joshi said the legal position has been clearly stated by the Law Minister Arun Jaitley as well as the CBI counsel.
"All those FIRs were lodged during the Congress regime. We were not in power. Whatever is argued is on the basis of those FIRs," the Human Resources Development Minister, who had a day's halt here on his way to New York said.
Replying a question on resumption of a dialogue with Pakistan, Joshi said the Prime Minister has shown "great leadership by extending his hand of friendship. But what is happening in Kashmir will certainly disrupt peace process. It is for Pakistan to see how cross-border terrorism is stopped."
While it was difficult to totally end "suicide attacks", Joshi said security forces had destroyed many ISI 'Addas' (operation centres).
Answering a question on Ayodhya, Joshi said the issue was being raised by Opposition to achieve "electoral gains".
"From the government's side the best solution is either through dialogue or through the Supreme Court verdict," he said. Bureau Report