Monday, December 27 2004 15:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government today (Dec 27, 2004) said that it was not "politically motivated" and had no intention to target Leader of Opposition L K Advani in the Ayodhya demolition case and termed the letter by a PMO (Prime Ministers Office) official in this regard as a "routine one".

"Advani should be grateful to CBI for not filing the revision petition against a Rae Bareli Court order dropping charges against him. We are not politically motivated. We are doing nothing against him," Law Minister H R Bharadwaj said.

At a press conference, he said that it was an unnecessary controversy raised by the opposition. However, he defended the controversial letter saying that the PMO was entitled to enquire about the status of the cases pending in the Court.

"The Government is doing what is legally permissible to do and we are not doing anything illegal," he said.

Stressing that the work of the investigating agencies were not being interfered with, Bharadwaj said, "The Government is scrupulously avoiding any interference in politically sensitive cases."

The December 8 letter of the PMO official to Personnel Secretary had said that the Law ministry might be asked to "(a) examine if there are any legal provisions and grounds for CBI to file a Revision against discharge of Shri L K Advani at this stage and (b) examine if there is any negligence on the part of any investigation/prosecuting agency in not filing a Revision Petition on time."