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``I am ready to face any punishment for my role in the Ram temple agitation, for which I feel proud,'' she told reporters at Shahpur, 35 km from here. Asked whether she would still be the BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate in the State after the court order, Ms. Bharti said ``I was made the Chief Ministerial candidate by the party and will abide by the party decision.'' She said she was not involved in the conspiracy to demolish the Babri Masjid but was proud of her role in the temple movement.
Unfortunate: Katiyar
In Lucknow, the Uttar Pradesh BJP president, Vinay Katiyar, today termed as ``unfortunate'' the decision of framing of charges against him in the Ayodhya demolition case but said he would not challenge it in the upper court. Mr. Katiyar told newspersons that he honoured the court ruling ``even if it was not correct.'' He said the BJP would not make Ayodhya a political issue but would also not allow the people of the ``Babar mentality'' to play with the sentiments of the majority community. Claiming that he was innocent and the charges framed against him in the Ayodhya demolition case were not fair, Mr. Katiyar, former Bajrang Dal president and MP from Faizabad, said, ``We were only taking the name of Ram and this was probably our only violation of law.'' He also refused that he had given any provocative speech at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.
Singhal for referendum
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad international president, Ashok Singhal, said that if legislation on the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya was not possible, the Government should go in for a referendum to decide the issue. He told newspersons in Ayodhya, ``We reiterate our demand that the Central Government enact legislation by convening a special session of Parliament... If legislation was not possible, the Government should go for general elections on the issue of the Ram temple at Ayodhya.'' Mass mobilisation programmes would be held across the country to garner support for the construction of the temple, Mr. Singhal said adding "our movement would be peaceful and disciplined."
Chargesheet not right: Giriraj Kishore
Taking strong exception to the court decision, the VHP Senior vice-president, Acharya Giriraj Kishore, said in New Delhi that he believed the charge sheet ``was not right'', but took ``no objection'' to the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, being discharged. ``We will fight the case in the court. Although I am one of the men charge sheeted, I don't believe the charge sheet is right,'' he said. ``I have no objection or complaint to the charges against Advani being dropped,'' he said. Asked about the course of action for the VHP, Mr. Kishore said the Parishad members named in the case would stick to their stand. ``We have not committed any offence. Every Hindu has a right to construct a Ram Temple at Ayodhya,'' he said.
A great loss: Thackeray
In Mumbai, the Shiv Sena supreme, Bal Thackeray, tonight said Mr. Joshi's resignation from the Union Cabinet was a ``great loss to the Government''. ``It is a great loss. He was an intelligent and efficient Minister'', Mr. Thackeray said. PTI,UNI
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