12-09-2003, 07:32 AM
Yadav comes clear on Babri, says not with BJP
Monday December 8 2003 00:00 IST
LUCKNOW: Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has tried to make peace with the minority community, clarifying his stand over the Babri demolition affidavit, setting at rest fears that he had gone soft on the BJP.
``They are waiting for me to make one move that will allow them to cash in on the situation. They (read the BJP) want me to pave the way for a chargesheet so that they can resign and whip up communal passions across the country,'' Mulayam said in his reply to the clarification sought by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on the Ayodhya issue. These forces have just won elections in three states and I do not want to give them a chance in UP too. This time, I am keeping my eyes and ears open.'' The board has asked Yadav to file an affidavit on the review petition pending in the Supreme Court to ensure that Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani is not absolved of conspiracy charges in the Babri demolition case. It also demanded that a fresh notification be issued in the Ayodhya case and that the case be shifted from the Rae Bareli court back to Lucknow.
The chief minister, on his part, assured the Muslim community and the personal law board, in particular, that there was no change in his stand regarding the Babri issue but said he was treading cautiously this time because he did not wish to ``fall into the trap of communal forces''.
The chief minister, meanwhile, tried to counter charges of his leaning towards the BJP and said: ``There cannot be a bigger abuse when people say that I have joined hands with communal forces. Muslims should not doubt my intentions and my determination to fight against communal forces. I will never compromise on my principles _ whether my government runs for three months or three years.''
Addressing a seminar organised by the board on the issue on Sunday, senior member Syed Shahabuddin said Muslims expected the Mulayam Singh government to protect their interests on the Ayodhya issue. ``The government should take necessary legal steps to ensure the trial of L K Advani for conspiracy charges in the demolition case and we also expect this government to issue a fresh notification, bringing the Babri trial back to Lucknow from the Rae Bareli court.
The chief minister should also initiate steps to acquire the temple construction material until the final verdict in the case is given,'' he said.
Chairman Maulana Rabey Hasni Nadwi said the board was firm on its stand of accepting the court verdict on the Babri dispute. ``We are always open for talks but there should be no pre-conditions or even hidden conditions. A dangerous political trend is developing in the country and we want to preserve the feeling of brotherhood at all costs,'' he said.
``For the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, however, it is a tool for deriving political mileage for the BJP and dividing the country on religious lines. There is talk of bringing legislation for temple construction in Ayodhya but this is not as simple as it may seem. Muslims will definitely challenge any such move because we are committed to respecting the court verdict in the matter,'' Shahabuddin said.
Monday December 8 2003 00:00 IST
LUCKNOW: Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has tried to make peace with the minority community, clarifying his stand over the Babri demolition affidavit, setting at rest fears that he had gone soft on the BJP.
``They are waiting for me to make one move that will allow them to cash in on the situation. They (read the BJP) want me to pave the way for a chargesheet so that they can resign and whip up communal passions across the country,'' Mulayam said in his reply to the clarification sought by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on the Ayodhya issue. These forces have just won elections in three states and I do not want to give them a chance in UP too. This time, I am keeping my eyes and ears open.'' The board has asked Yadav to file an affidavit on the review petition pending in the Supreme Court to ensure that Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani is not absolved of conspiracy charges in the Babri demolition case. It also demanded that a fresh notification be issued in the Ayodhya case and that the case be shifted from the Rae Bareli court back to Lucknow.
The chief minister, on his part, assured the Muslim community and the personal law board, in particular, that there was no change in his stand regarding the Babri issue but said he was treading cautiously this time because he did not wish to ``fall into the trap of communal forces''.
The chief minister, meanwhile, tried to counter charges of his leaning towards the BJP and said: ``There cannot be a bigger abuse when people say that I have joined hands with communal forces. Muslims should not doubt my intentions and my determination to fight against communal forces. I will never compromise on my principles _ whether my government runs for three months or three years.''
Addressing a seminar organised by the board on the issue on Sunday, senior member Syed Shahabuddin said Muslims expected the Mulayam Singh government to protect their interests on the Ayodhya issue. ``The government should take necessary legal steps to ensure the trial of L K Advani for conspiracy charges in the demolition case and we also expect this government to issue a fresh notification, bringing the Babri trial back to Lucknow from the Rae Bareli court.
The chief minister should also initiate steps to acquire the temple construction material until the final verdict in the case is given,'' he said.
Chairman Maulana Rabey Hasni Nadwi said the board was firm on its stand of accepting the court verdict on the Babri dispute. ``We are always open for talks but there should be no pre-conditions or even hidden conditions. A dangerous political trend is developing in the country and we want to preserve the feeling of brotherhood at all costs,'' he said.
``For the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, however, it is a tool for deriving political mileage for the BJP and dividing the country on religious lines. There is talk of bringing legislation for temple construction in Ayodhya but this is not as simple as it may seem. Muslims will definitely challenge any such move because we are committed to respecting the court verdict in the matter,'' Shahabuddin said.