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Centre did not give me directions: Sorabjee

Under attack from political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party's allies, Attorney General Soli Sorabjee on Wednesday said that the Centre had not asked him to seek permission from the Supreme Court for a symbolic puja in Ayodhya.

"I did not see the status quo order of the Supreme Court in its 1994 judgement apply to the acquired undisputed land. And hence, I gave my views to the court that a symbolic puja could be permitted there," the attorney general said.

"I was not airing anyone's view -- neither of the government nor that of the VHP," he said.

Asked if he was saying that he had not discussed the issue with the government, Sorabjee said: "Naturally, as the attorney general the government cannot disown the views I gave before the Supreme Court."

Asked whether he did not even discuss the matter with Law Minister Arun Jaitley, Sorabjee said: "With the law minister I did discuss what could be the possible interpretations of the 1994 status quo order of the Supreme Court. But the government had left the line of argument to be adopted before the court entirely to me."

"I was not briefed, nor told to make the submission regarding the restrictions to be imposed if at all the court were to permit the symbolic puja," he added.

"No self-respecting attorney general will seek instructions on how the matter should be argued in the court," he added.

Asked how he could enumerate the number of sants to be allowed to perform the puja and the number of karsevaks to be allowed to witness it, he said: "VHP counsel Rama Jois was sitting next to me and I had enquired from him as to how many people would be involved in this."

"However, I had categorically made it clear to him that whether the VHP liked it or not, I am going to suggest imposition of stringent conditions and restrictions on holding of such a puja, Sorabjee said.

He said that the Supreme Court order was there for everybody to see and obey. "Not only is the government bound to obey, but the VHP, which appeared in the court, should also obey the verdict. Every party should accept the judicial verdict whether they like it or not."

PTI

The Ayodhya Issue: Complete Coverage

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