Kochi: Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister Murli Manohar Joshi on September 25, said he was firm on quitting from the Union Cabinet following Rae Bareli court's decision to chargesheet him along with six others and said he was neither isolated in the party on the issue of his resignation nor upset by the Sangh Parivar's stand on it.

Replying to questions from reporters, he said he stuck to his resignation and was waiting for Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's return from New York. "You will know then."

Asked if he was isolated in the party, Joshi said, "I was never isolated."

Queried whether he was upset at the Sangh Parivar's attitude on his resignation, he said, "I am not. Moreover, we do not discuss such issues with the Sangh Parivar."

On whether he would appeal against the Rae Bareli court's decision to frame charges against him, Joshi said his lawyers were working on it.

Asked whether he would contest the next Lok Sabha election, he said a firm "yes".

To a question whether he would lead the party in the election, Joshi said, "Prime Minister will lead the party."

Joshi also said, Politics should be a combination of 'Rajneethi' and 'Dharmneethi'. I resigned from the Cabinet so that I can keep a balance between the two, said Joshi,who was in Kochi to attend a function in connection with the 50th birthday celebrations of renowned spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi.

PTI