NEW DELHI: The Government and the Bharatiya Janata Party were once again locked in a confrontation over the Ayodhya imbroglio as angry BJP members paralyzed the proceedings in both the Houses of Parliament, on Dec.8, in protest against the arrest of their leaders.

BJP members stormed the wells of the two House demanding the release of their leaders and the withdrawal of “false cases” against them. The Government hit back by declaring that the arrested BJP leaders would not be allowed to meet the Press and apart from family members no visitors would have access to them. Reports from Lucknow said that the BJP chief L.K.Advani had been taken to an undisclosed destination.

HARDENING POSTURES: The tough stance adopted by both the Government and the main Opposition party, aroused a question mark about the proceedings. In Parliament in the next few days. ‘The confrontation had taken a bitter turn with the two sides in an unyielding mood. This was evident, on Wednesday, when the Lok Sabha was adjourned twice before calling it a day without conducting any business. The Rajya Sabha also could not transact any business in the morning session. It took up listed business only after lunch when the BJP stayed away from the House for the rest of the day. Slogans of “withdraw false causes” and “no Advani no House” echoed in the two Houses.

Confrontation spilled over outside the two Houses. Efforts of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to break the impasse proved futile with the Government rejecting the BJP demand for unconditional release of their leaders, During the two rounds of talks in the Speaker’s chamber, the BJP leaders are believed to have asked for a suo moto selection from the CBI before the court that leaders were released on personal bonds at Mata Tila earlier.

The Home Minister told the Rajya Sabha that the Government would take the charge sheet against the BJP leaders to its lawful conclusion, “We are serious, and there is no question of withdrawing the charges.” Chavan told the elders while replying to clarifications arising out of his suo moto statement.

Chava mentioned that there was no contradiction between the Prime Minister’s assurance to rebuild the razed Babri Masjid and his view that Rao had never promised reconstruction on the original site. He said the issue of the temple construction would be guided by the Supreme Court opinion.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 17, 1993