'PM statements, not resignation the issue'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC 14. The Telugu Desam Party today said ``it was not a question of satisfaction with the Prime Minister's explanation on his controversial Ayodhya statements in his reply in the Lok Sabha'', but the party has taken note of the ``assertion of his Government's commitment to the National Democratic Alliance agenda'' and ``his affirmation that he would abide by the court verdict on the Ayodhya issue''.

Mr. K. Yerran Naidu, TDP parliamentary party leader, was more diplomatic in his stance than the Trinamool leader, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, though he gave his party's moral support to the Trinamool.

Mr. Naidu had made it clear during the Lok Sabha debate that he did not agree with the motion seeking the removal of the three Ministers charged with conspiracy to demolish the Babri Masjid, and would therefore vote against the motion. They had been Ministers for three years. The more worrisome thing was the Prime Minister's statements on the Ram Temple issue, and the TDP had from the start wanted a discussion on that and had sought an explanation from the Prime Minister, Mr Naidu said.

Affirming that the TDP would not compromise on secular issues, and it had questioned the Prime Minister on his statements, Mr. Naidu also said discussing these ``religious issues'' should not be the national priority when developmental issues and poverty- alleviation programmes needed to be looked at urgently. While other countries were going ahead making their nations economically stronger, politics here was getting embroiled in ``religious issues'' he said.

He also asserted that if anyone's secular credentials were in doubt, the TDP would demand clarifications and an explanation, as it had done after the Prime Minister's ``unwarranted and uncalled for remarks on the Ram temple.''

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