Babri demolition case: CBI seeks more time to show Kalyan Singh no longer holds governor post
Lucknow: The CBI on Wednesday sought more time from a special court, conducting the trial of those accused in the alleged conspiracy of Babri Masjid demolition, for furnishing documents to put on record that Kalyan Singh no longer holds the constitutional post of governor.
The central probe agency had on Monday moved the special CBI court here for summoning Singh to face trial in the case after his term as Rajasthan governor ended.
Singh, who was Uttar Pradesh chief minister when the mosque in Ayodhya was demolished, enjoyed protection from trial while he held a constitutional post as governor. After completing his five-year term as governor, the 87-year-old Singh rejoined the BJP at the party office in Lucknow on Monday.
The court had taken up the CBI application on Monday and for the record, inquired from the agency if Singh no longer holds the constitutional post of governor.
Responding to the court's query on Wednesday, the CBI sought more time to furnish the documents. The court has fixed September 16 as the next date of hearing on the CBI plea.
The special court is conducting the trial of those accused in the alleged conspiracy including senior BJP leaders L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti.
Moving the application on Monday, the CBI had pleaded that Kalyan Singh was charge-sheeted in 1993.
It pleaded that the Supreme Court in its order of April 19, 2017 had said Singh could not be brought to trial because of the constitutional immunity granted to governors under Article 361 of the Constitution.
The SC had, however, allowed the CBI to move for summoning the former chief minister as an accused as soon as he ceased to be a governor. All the accused are on bail in the case which is being heard on a day-to-day basis, going by the apex court's directions.
The SC had in 2017 ordered the revival of the demolition case. This is separate from the case to decide the ownership of the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site.
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Efforts of party cadres will be rewarded on May 4: DMK chief Stalin
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday said that the efforts made by his party cadres during the Assembly elections would be rewarded on May 4.
The counting of votes for the Assembly elections held on April 23 will be taken up on May 4.
"We are set to reap the rewards of the hard work put in by our party cadres on the coming fourth (May 4 counting day). There is absolutely no change in this and not even the slightest deviation," Stalin said at a May Day event here.
"There is no need for anyone to assume that I am speaking merely on the basis of exit polls," he added.
Stalin, who is also DMK chief, said that "good news" would come for those eagerly waiting for the election results.
Stating that the DMK governance is based on philosophy and principles, Stalin said, "This will continue."
He recalled the pivotal role of the then Chief Minister C N Annadurai, who first declared May Day as a government holiday, and subsequently, late CM M Karunanidhi, who was instrumental in extending it as a paid holiday across the nation.
"Responding to the request of Kalaingnar (Karunanidhi), the then Prime Minister V P Singh accepted the plea and declared it (May 1) a paid government holiday not merely for Tamil Nadu, but for the entire nation," Stalin said.
