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BJP wanted Babri case to be dropped: Maya
Mulayam to be sworn in CM today
Our Correspondent

Lucknow, August 28
Outgoing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today dropped a bombshell when she claimed that some senior BJP leaders wanted her to ensure that the cases against them in the Babri masjid demolition incident were buried.

“Senior BJP leaders approached me and requested for my help in the Ram janmabhoomi case and demanded that I should withdraw cases against some high and mighty involved in the Babri masjid demolition case,” Ms Mayawati said while addressing a press conference here today.

She, however, refused to name the BJP leaders who had approached her for the favour. “I will reveal the names at the right time,” she added. Senior BJP leaders including, Mr L. K. Advani, Mr M.M. Joshi, Ms Uma Bharati, Mr Vinay Katiyar and senior VHP leaders, are being tried in the masjid demolition case in a special CBI court in Rae Bareli.

“The BJP leaders asked me not to issue notification in this case and dismantle Rae Bareli court hearing the Babri Masjid case. As I refused to toe the BJP line, its leadership dumped my government and joined hands with the Samajwadi Party,” Ms Mayawati said.

“Both the Samajwadi Party and BJP want to use the temple issue for their political gains. The ASI report finding remnants of a temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya would be used by both the parties to sensitise their respective vote banks,’’ said Ms Mayawati.

Ms Mayawati, who is also national vice-president of the BSP, said that while the BJP would insist on the construction of a temple at the disputed site, the SP would vouch for a mosque, thus creating communal tension in society.

“Though in the next government Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav would be the Chief Minister, it would be remote-controlled by the BJP,” she said, adding, “there is a tacit understanding between the two parties and, therefore, the BJP has urged Mr Yadav not to poach the BJP camp.”

Ms Mayawati also announced her resignation from the state assembly saying she had already sent the resignation letter to Speaker Keshari Nath Tripathi.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri has formally invited Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to form an alternative government thus ending a three-day political impasse, triggered by the collapse of the BSP-BJP coalition.

A formal letter has been sent to Mr Yadav to form government in the state, Mr R.K. Ojha, Special Secretary, to the UP Governor, told this correspondent today.

Mr Yadav will take oath as Chief Minister at a ceremony that will be held at around 9.30 am on the banks of the Gomti at Laxman Mela grounds. The Governor, who will administer the oath of office to Mr Yadav and his council of ministers, has given the SP chief 14 days’ time from the day he assumes charge to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

A Raj Bhavan letter sent by the Governor’s Principal Secretary Shambhu Nath said Mr Shastri has also convened the Assembly from September 2 during which the vote-of-confidence of the new government would be held.