Chennai, June 10: MDMK today described the Congress' demand for resignation of Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and some other ministers from the Union Cabinet in connection with the demolition of the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya in 1992 as "premature." "The demand is premature. The testimony of some kar sevaks before a special court is hard to believe given the fact that they remained silent for so long," MDMK general secretary Vaiko told reporters, outside a designated Pota court at suburban Poonamallee.

On Saturday, Congress Party spokesman Anand Sharma had demanded the resignation of Advani and other union ministers chargesheeted in the Babri Masjid demolition case following allegations by five accused in the case that they had pulled down the disputed structure at Ayodhya at the instigation of Advani and other senior BJP leaders. Recalling that the Deputy Prime Minister had expressed regret over the incident in Parliament, Vaiko said he was sure that Advani was innocent.

Bureau Report