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New Delhi: Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, one of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders chargesheeted in the Babri Masjid demolition case, said he will quit the government if charges are framed against him on September 19 by the special court, which is expected to pronounce its order.

"If charges are framed against me, I will tender my resignation," he said on the eve of the Rae Bareilly court's decision on September 19.

When asked as to why there was a need for his resignation as the BJP has been maintaining it was a political case, Joshi said, "It is up to Prime Minister to decide what he considers of the order…it is upto the party to decide."

He, however, refrained from saying whether other ministers who were also accused in the case, should follow suit.

"Ask them. I have nothing to say about them. This is my view. I can't say about anyone else," he said.

Joshi dismissed suggestions that his quitting could create a crisis for the government.

"Why will it create a crisis to the government? I am in the party, in Parliament, in BJP and in NDA," Joshi said adding that there would be no crisis to the government.

Replying to another question, Joshi said it was "normal protocol" that a Minister against whom charges were framed should quit.

On the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya, he said the report of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) after the excavation the case for the temple has become "very strong" and it was upto the court to take a view about the report.

PTI