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Indian MPs To Disrupt Parliament Until Ministers Quit Over Mosque Razing
NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indian opposition MPs, demanding the resignation of three federal ministers implicated in the demolition of a historic mosque, forced a parliamentary adjournment Monday and vowed to disrupt the legislature until they quit.
The members pressed for the resignation of Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani, the cabinet number two, as well as Human Resources Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and Sports Minister Uma Bharti.
They were implicated in the demolition of the Babri mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. The razing sparked nationwide violence between Hindus and Muslims that claimed some 2,000 lives.
The main opposition Congress party said it would continue to disrupt parliament until the three ministers quit.
"We are determined to go ahead with the battle till we are heard and the battle will go to the Rajya Sabha [upper house] also," party spokeswoman Margaret Alva said.
Alva said unless the party was allowed to speak on the issue "parliament will not go on."
The Congress offensive came two days ahead of the eighth anniversary of the demolition of the disputed structure.
"We are talking about the entire issue of moral responsibility of those charged [in the demolition] and are avoiding the due process of law," Alva said.
Alva's colleague S. Jaipal Reddy said it was morally unacceptable for Home Minister Advani to remain in his position, as the central investigative agency and the judicial commission probing the razing was under his direct control.
On Monday, lower house speaker G.M.C. Balayogi was forced to adjourn parliament until Tuesday as the agitated lawmakers, including members of the Congress party, refused to resume their seats while noisily demanding the ministers' scalps.
"We strongly condemn the Congress behavior. It was disgraceful and not befitting the main opposition party," Vijay Kumar Malhotra, a spokesman for the ruling Hindu nationalist BJP party told reporters.
"It seems as though the Congress has suddenly woken up from a deep sleep and as December 6 is only two days away, the party is raising a hue and cry in the house," he said.
The Babri mosque was razed by hundreds of Hindu fundamentalists who claim it was built on the ruins of a temple marking the birthplace of the Hindu warrior god Rama.
Several BJP leaders have been accused of egging on the frenzied mobs but they have denied the allegations.
"It is unfair and totally irrelevant. The matter is being raised as there are no big issues left for the opposition," said Arun Jaitley, law and justice minister and a BJP member.
Opposition Congress leaders backed their demand citing the example of former junior defense minister Harin Pathak who resigned on being charged with involvement in the death of a police constable.
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