The Hindu : New Delhi News : Affidavit not an inadvertent mistake, says BJP leader

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Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007
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New Delhi

Affidavit not an inadvertent mistake, says BJP leader

Neena Vyas

Congress’ “pseudo secular attitudes” blamed
“Ramar Sethu” will be a focal point for other issues

NEW DELHI: The now withdrawn affidavit of the Union government on “Ramar Sethu,” earlier submitted to the Supreme Court, was not the result of an inadvertent mistake, but was a “deliberate and conscious” act.

For this, both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi must apologise, the Bharatiya Janata Party has said.

Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad hinted that failure to apologise could lead to “hundreds” of cases being filed against the government’s top leaders for, the government had committed an offence under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code by hurting Hindu sentiments through its affidavit questioning the historicity of the Ramayana.

“The government’s affidavit was a team effort in which several Ministries and the Law Officer would have been involved. It cannot be an inadvertent mistake,” Mr. Prasad said.

He pointed to the “competitive blame game” within the government, with one Minister, Jairam Ramesh, pointing an accusing finger at another, Ambika Soni, and demanding her resignation.

While blaming the Congress’ “pseudo secular attitudes” that led to such an affidavit being filed, the BJP wondered whether the government would have dared to make a similar “mistake” about the religious beliefs of the minorities — Christians, Muslims or Sikhs.

Party leaders hinted that the BJP would keep the “Ramar Sethu” issue alive as it would be used by it as a focal point for several other issues, including implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations. Once again the party would like to drum up its own support by raising the slogan of “pseudo secularism” against the UPA.

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