Political reactions have come pouring in thick and fast after the Supreme Court revived conspiracy charges against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders - former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani, former Union minister Murli Manohar Joshi and Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharti - in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
While Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha said the continuation of Bharti in the Union Cabinet was untenable after the court ruling, the party’s Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari termed it a triumph over the BJP’s efforts to save its leaders. “I respect the Supreme Court. The BJP tried to save its leaders but failed,” said Tiwari.
The BJP meanwhile said that it needed time to go into the specifics of the SC order before commenting. “We need to study the order before coming out with a comment,” said party spokesperson G.V.L. Narasimha Rao.
Kailash Vijaywargiya, the party’s general secretary said, “We will discuss the issue, but I don't think we need to take action against our leaders.”
(This news report was first published in The Hindu online edition)